After the restructuring of administrative organs, former provinces of Butare and Gitarama lost some of their parts to make the Southern Province of the South out of them. Its headquarters is at Busasamana in Nyanza District.

To better understand what a newly created province is, one has to consider history of the parts that compose it:

Gikongoro: The former Gikongoro Province is composed of a humid region of high mountains of the Congo-Nile Crete and of a temperate region at an average altitude. It is also made up of the natural forest of Nyungwe.

Gitarama: The former Gitarama province has two urban centres: Gitarama and Ruhango. It is in this part that can be found the Rock of Kamegeri which is a much known historical site, Busaga forest, the Sky of Kamonyi and other tourist spots.

Butare: Part of ex-Butare province and which is part of the Southern Province has often been called the cultural and intellectual capital since the past up to now. It is in this part that is the National University of Rwanda and Ethnographic Museum. Butare was called Astrida during the colonial times, a name received from the Belgians because of their queen Astrid.

Among the factors which made Butare known, one can mention Maraba Coffee which often occupies the top place among the best coffee brands of the world.

It is in this part with a mild climate of Nyanza District where the headquarters of the Southern Province are. Nyanza is known for its history as being the ancient royal capital, and even today it is there where the Palace and the grave of King Mutara Rudahigwa Pierre Charles and Queen Rosalie Gicanda are.