Monarchy and Democracy : Reflections of an Exiled King

King Kigeli Ndahindurwa V of Rwanda ascended to the throne on July 27, 1959 - against the will of the Belgians - after the death of King Mutara III. In 1961, a Hutu revolt backed by the Belgian government resulted in a coup d'état against the King. King Kigeli has since been in exile in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, and has lived in Washington D.C. since 1992. During this time, King Kigeli has traveled internationally to speak on behalf of the Rwandan people and has repeatedly called for peace and harmony between the different groups. Please join us for a speech and discussion highlighting his experiences, the events that took place in Rwanda since his exile, and his desire to return.