Rwanda of 1884 assigned the territory to Germany as part of German East Africa, marking the beginning of the colonial era. The explorer Gustav Adolf von Götzen was the first European to significantly explore the country in 1894; he crossed from the south-east to Lake Kivu and met the king. The Germans did not significantly alter the social structure of the country, but exerted influence by supporting the king and the existing hierarchy and delegating power to local chiefs. Belgian forces took control of Rwanda and Burundi in 1916, during World War I, beginning a period of more direct colonial rule.
Energy in Rwanda Energy in Rwanda Energy use in Rwanda is undergoing rapid change at the beginning of the 21st century. The extent of grid electricity is limited and mainly concentrated near Kigali. Most of the country uses firewood as its main energy source. Rwanda is planning to expand from 218 MW of grid power in 2018 to 586 MW in 2024 and may import as much some additional from neighboring countries. In addition, it is installing small solar units throughout the country to ensure electricity to buildings not connected to the national grid, or to help deal with power outages. Currently, the