Until 1962 Rwanda had been a part of the United Nations Trust Territory of Ruanda-Urundi under the trusteeship of Belgium.

In June 1962 the UN General Assembly terminated the Belgian trusteeship and granted full independence to Rwanda and Burundi.

The United States immediately recognized the Rwandan government on its independence day, July 1, 1962, and moved to establish diplomatic relations.

The U.S. Embassy in the capital Kigali was established on July 1, 1962, with David J.S.

Charles D. Withers was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Rwanda on March 9, 1963.