File talk:RwandaTerritoryAfterFeb1993.png

I suspect the division between the Byumba and Kibungu prefectures is incorrect. Scott Straus writes [1] "After the genocide [August 1996], the new government created the prefecture of Umutara from Byumba and Kibungo". This does not make sense with this map, as it seems Byumba encompasses Umutara in its entirety. I think this undated map (which must precede 1992, because Kigali) may be correct: [2]

Now I also notice that the map is missing Kigali city, which became its own prefecture in 1992. Uglemat (talk) 12:21, 29 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]

The undated map can be seen with slightly higher resolution here: [3] Uglemat (talk) 12:25, 29 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Another here: [4]. This map on commons is probably best, although its description is currently incorrect: [5]. Amakuru, to make sure you see this. Uglemat (talk) 12:38, 29 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]

The UN map can be accessed from here (the file has periodically been changed, which can be observed by moving through time): [6]. It seems the UN map department was not staying up to date. Uglemat (talk) 12:51, 29 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]

@Uglemat: it looks like you're correct about the Kibungo/Byumba boundary being in the wrong place. I don't know why I'd never noticed that before... I used to live in Umutara at one time, and my understanding was that it had all been part of Byumba, but it seems that was wrong. The map here is based on a map in Romeo Dallaire's book "Shake Hands with the Devil". You may be able to view a preview of it here on Amazon, the map is near the beginning of the book: [7]. As you say, the province boundary is not the way I've drawn it, simply because it didn't occur to me that it might differ from the more recent Umutara/Kibungo boundary. I'll make an update to this map to reflect that when I get a chance.

On the Kigali-Rural / Kigali-City question, I think you may be mistaken about that. I've never seen any reference to it dating back to 1992, and both Dallaire's map and the maps in Prunier's genocide book show Kigali as just one province. The Statoids website dates the Kigali split to around 1996 as well, though with less certainty than the Umutara founding, which it dates to 19 April 1996. Thanks  — Amakuru (talk) 09:36, 30 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]

The Kigali split is referred to in Alison Des Forges 1999, n14 of this page. After noting that during Habyarimana's rule there were 10 prefectures, she writes that

An eleventh prefecture was added in 1992 when the city of Kigali was established as an independent unit and a twelfth, Mutara, was formed in the northeast in August 1996.

I think we may assume that the UN map is how Rwanda looked at the beginning of the war, the original 10 prefectures, even though it was clearly wrong in 1997/2004. Uglemat (talk) 13:16, 30 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Another source which documents the arrival of some commission in early 1993 noted that "During the two weeks it spent in Rwanda, the Commission visited five of the eleven prefectures (Kigali, Kigali-Ville, Gisenyi, ...)".[8] A book which specializes in administrative subdivisions of the world only noted about changes in 1996 that "There is evidence that Kigali has split into two prefectures, Kigali-Ville (ISO code L) and Kigali-Rural (K), and that a new prefecture, Mutara (M) has been formed from part of Byumba, Kibungo, or both. No details are yet available [anno 1999, I'm guessing]." [9] Uglemat (talk) 13:48, 30 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Scott Straus also mentions the Kigali split. He writes that "Before the genocide [of 1994], many Tutsis lived in Kigali-City, Kigali-Rural, Gitarama, and Butare Prefectures. Violence started quickly in the first two prefectures..."[10] Uglemat (talk) 14:06, 30 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]

It's strange then that none of the maps you've linked above, nor the Dallaire map I mentioned above show Kigali city as a separate province. Unless it had different boundaries previously, which were even smaller than the pre-2006 boundaries and hence not shown on the map (because there is a star for Kigali rather than specific boundaries). I think that either way, without direct evidence of it in any sources, and particularly in the direct source used for this map, we should not insert it per WP:SYNTH. As I said earlier though, I will certainly update for the correct Kibungo-Byumba border, and apologies for that oversight.  — Amakuru (talk) 16:20, 30 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I agree that we need a map of Kigali-City before making that change. Nevertheless, the sources above shows that it was a province at the time, and there is no doubt that Des Forges is correct, for otherwise she would be inventing facts out of thin air! :) This map is interesting, as usual with no explanation. Uglemat (talk) 16:36, 30 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Amakuru, I've made a new map of pre-2006 Rwanda here which can be used to create new maps quickly (using GIMP), by toggling the various layers. Uglemat (talk) 22:04, 2 December 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I think this map shows that Kigali City prefecture was smaller than is depicted on Wikipedia's maps. The prefecture is quite clearly delineated, and it does not border gitarama. Uglemat (talk) 09:31, 5 December 2017 (UTC)[reply]

There's a map on this page which shows three sub-units in that area (I guess those are communes, not sub-prefectures). Uglemat (talk) 09:35, 5 December 2017 (UTC)[reply]

The upcoming formation of the prefecture was known already in 1989. A book wrote "La préfecture de la ville de Kigali sera divisée en trois communes: Nyarugenge (cette commune englobait jusqu'à présent toute la ville de Kigali). Kicukiro et Kacyiru." [11] Uglemat (talk) 10:03, 5 December 2017 (UTC)[reply]

The statoids website also confirms this. It wrote that "Kigali-Ville was completely surrounded by Kigali-Rural.". I have searched a long time for maps which delineate Kigali-Ville like this, but I haven't been able to find anything. The best was an image possibly produced by AFP which contained an anachronism. I am now sceptical that Kigali-Ville ever looked like that. Uglemat (talk) 15:11, 5 December 2017 (UTC)[reply]

This document shows that the prefet of Kigali-Ville was Tharcisse Renzaho in February 1993. His indictment. Uglemat (talk) 15:32, 5 December 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I think I get it now. Kigali-Ville was surrounded by Kigali-Rural until "the communes of Rwanda were replaced on 2002-01-01 by a new set of divisions called districts and municipalities" (statoids). Before 2002, the commune between Kigali-Ville and Gitarama, Butamwa, had the HASC code RW.KR.BU, KR obviously meaning Kigali-Rural. After 2002, Butamwe became a "district" and got the HASC code RW.KV.BU, KV = Kigali-Ville. Uglemat (talk) 16:01, 5 December 2017 (UTC)[reply]

OK, good sleuthing. Do we have any details on the pre-2002 boundaries, or do we just assume they were too small to be necessary to include on this map?

It seems like both Umutara borders were changed a bit in 2002 (not relevant to this map). It also seems like the northern part of the Kigali-Rural/Kibungo border moved somewhat closer to Kigali. Other than that it's pretty much the same, as far as I can see. Uglemat (talk) 19:11, 5 December 2017 (UTC)[reply]

The map which I made previously has been updated with the changes. Uglemat (talk) 20:09, 5 December 2017 (UTC)[reply]

A book released by the government in 2016 ("History of Rwanda") includes a map on page 606 of "administrative divisions in 2001", with the districts shown, and the old-new Kigali shape. Uglemat (talk) 22:37, 15 December 2017 (UTC)[reply]

FYI, I've now made a new map of the communes as they existed before 2002 (SVG instead of raster graphics). There were quite a few maps available from the MICT website. Uglemat (talk) 12:37, 29 December 2017 (UTC)[reply]