Guy Logiest

Guillaume "Guy" Logiest (1912–1991) was a Belgian military officer. He served in colonial Rwanda as Belgium's top-ranking colonial official, the special military resident from 1959–1962 and High Representative (1962). Under his guidance, the political framework was laid for democratic elections in 1962 and independence of the country on 1 July that year.

Career

Guillaume Logiest was born in Ghent, Belgium to a French-speaking family. He was called Guy by his family and associates. He entered the military as a young man and made his career there.

He was assigned to colonial Rwanda as the highest-ranking military officer. Belgium had assigned military officers as its top colonial administrators in the colony. From 1959 to 1962, Logiest served as special military resident, and High Representative (1962) of Rwanda. In 1959 the Hutu majority overthrew the Tutsi monarchy in the Rwandan Revolution. It had controlled much of the country for centuries. Although in the minority, the Tutsi had been favored by the German and Belgian colonial administrations.

During the years when Rwanda was developing institutions to gain independence from colonial rule, Logiest helped guide the creation of a political framework for administration. This included preparation for elections, with the expected result that the Hutu majority would take power. Until Rwanda's full independence in 1962, Logiest continued to serve as Belgium's highest official representative in Rwanda. Guy Logiest must be seen as the contributor to the genocide against the Tutsi which took place in 1994.In introduction to Guy Logiest book by another Belgian and an Historian' Professor Stengers wrote:"from the 17th of November,this neophyte in Rwandan politics, called in the administrators of the Rwanda territories, decided to ensure the future of the country in one stroke, brutally, in reversing the traditionally policy led by Belgium from the very beginning" In place of Chiefs and sub-chiefs Tutsi, he decided to nominate in mass the Hutu . After giving power to temporary Hutu Chiefs and sub-chiefs he organized elections which the Belgians made sure that the Hutu will win.Those acts were pure and simple a transfer of power to a group of people Logiest and the Belgians knew they will always be subservient to them. Therefore it is improper to say there was " A Hutu revolution in 1959.