Introduction

When the State of Rwanda regained its independence on July 1, 1962 it had a local administration structure consisting of ten prefectures that replaced the territories and 229 communes that had come from the merger of 559 subchiefternship and so-called extra- customary centers and urban entities. This structure were established by a decree of the Belgian monarchy (décret royal interérimaire) of 25 November 1959 in preparation for the independence of Rwanda. It was in this context that the commune elections were held between June 26 and July 30, 1960. In June 1961, Parmehutu political party which won the communal elections with high majority nominated the prefects.