Kigali, officially known as the City of Kigali or Kigali City, is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It serves as a province-level administrative unit located near the country's geographic center. The city is situated within a landscape characterized by rolling hills, valleys, and ridges connected by steep slopes.
Established in 1907 as a German administrative outpost, Kigali remained a minor administrative center until Rwanda gained independence in 1962. At that time, it became the national capital, shifting the primary administrative focus of the country away from Huye. As Rwanda's primate city, it is considered a relatively young urban center.