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___ RwandaA virtual guide to "the land of a thousand hills". Rwanda is a relative small landlocked, hilly country in Central Africa, located south of the Equator and east of Lake Kivu, one of the African Great Lakes. It is bordered by Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Uganda.The country covers an area of 26,338 km², compared it is about the size of Macedonia (Rep.), or slightly smaller than the US state of Maryland. Rwanda has a population of 11.5 million People (2016; Rwanda's population density is among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa). Capital and largest city is Kigali (est. pop. 1 million people). Spoken languages are Kinyarwanda (official language of Rwanda), English and French, Swahili as the lingua franca in the African Great Lakes region. |
Republika y'u Rwanda |
Country Profile |
Background: In 1959, three years before independence, the majority ethnic group, the Hutus overthrew the ruling Tutsi king. Over the next several years thousands of Tutsis were killed, and some 150,000 driven into exile in neighboring countries. The children of these exiles later formed a rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and began a civil war in 1990. The war, along with several political and economic upheavals, exacerbated ethnic tensions culminating in April 1994 in the genocide of roughly 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The Tutsi rebels defeated the Hutu regime and ended the killing in July 1994, but approximately 2 million Hutu refugees - many fearing Tutsi retribution - fled to neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zaire, now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC). Since then most of the refugees have returned to Rwanda. Despite substantial international assistance and political reforms - including Rwanda's first local elections in March 1999 - the country continues to struggle to boost investment and agricultural output and to foster reconciliation. A series of massive population displacements, a nagging Hutu extremist insurgency, and Rwandan involvement in two wars over the past four years in the neighboring DROC continue to hinder Rwanda's efforts. (Source: CIA - The World Factbook) for a more detailed history see: History of a People |
Official Name: Republika y'u Rwanda short form: Rwanda int'l long form: Republic of Rwanda ISO Country Code: RW, RWA, .rw Time: Local Time = UTC +2h Actual Time: Thu-Mar-28 10:02 Country Calling Code: +250 Capital City: Kigali (over 1 million people) Other Cities: Gitarama, Butare, Ruhengeri, Gisenyi. Government: Type: Republic. Independence: 1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship). Constitution: 26 May 2003. Geography: Location: Central Africa, south of the Equator at the Great Lakes region, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo. Area: 26,338 km² (10,169 sq. mi.) Terrain: From Grasslands and rolling hills to areas of rugged mountains that extend southeast from a chain of volcanoes in the northwest. Highest point: Volcano Karisimbi 4,519 m. Climate: Mild and temperate, with two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January). People: Nationality: Rwandan(s). Population: 11.5 million (2016; Rwanda's population density is among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa). Ethnic groups: Hutu 85%, Tutsi 14%, Twa 1%. Religions: Christian 93.5%, traditional African 0.1%, Muslim 4.6%, 1.7% claim no religious beliefs. Languages: French, English, Kinyarwanda. Literacy: 65% Natural resources: Gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land. Agriculture products: Coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock. Industries: Cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes. Exports - commodities: coffee, tea, hides, tin ore. Exports partners: Democratic Republic of the Congo 19.8%, US 10.8%, China 10.3%, Swaziland 7.9%, Malaysia 7%, Pakistan 6.2%, Germany 5.9%, Thailand 5.5% (2015) Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products, cement and construction material. Imports partners: Uganda 15.7%, Kenya 11.8%, India 8.7%, China 8.7%, UAE 8.6%, Russia 6.6%, Tanzania 5.1% (2015) Currency: Rwandan Franc (RWF) |
Note: External links will open in a new browser window. Official Sites of RwandaRwanda is a presidential republic with a multi-party system. Head of State and Head of Government is the President. The President is elected by popular vote every seven years, he appoints the Prime Minister and all other members of Cabinet. MapsAdministrative Map of RwandaAdministrative Map of Rwanda (until January 2006). New Administrative Map of Rwanda Administrative Map of Rwanda (since January 2006). Political Map of Rwanda Political map of Rwanda. Google Earth Rwanda Searchable map and satellite view of Rwanda. Google Earth Kigali Searchable map and satellite view of Rwanda's capital city. Political Map of Africa The 54 countries of Africa. Map of Africa A Relief Map of Africa. Image: Szymon Łukaszyk |
NewsImvaho Nshya News site (in Iryibanze and Amakuru language) Newsupdate Official News From the Government of Rwanda by the Department of Information (in Kinyarwanda language) IRIN Rwanda Rwanda related news and news archive The Newtimes Rwandas leading English newspaper. Rwanda Information Exchange Information on Rwanda from various sources. Radio/TV ORINFOR Rwanda Office of Information. |
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Arts & CultureNational Museum of Rwanda Has historical, ethnographic, artistic and archaeological collections. |
Business & EconomyBanque Nationale du Rwanda The Rwanda National Bank, Central Bank of Rwanda. (in French). COOPAC Coffee Cooperative Cooperative of Rwandan coffee farmers. Transportation Rwandair Express The new national carrier. |
© Parliament of Rwanda |
Travel and Tour Consumer Information
Destination Rwanda - Travel and Tour GuidesDiscover Rwanda: Lake Kivu, Akagera National Park, Nyungwe National Park, Virunga volcanos, accommodation, hotels, attractions, festivals, events, tourist boards, biking, hiking, climbing, rainforest, volcano trekking, tours and much more. Rwanda Discover Rwanda, the official travel guide to Rwanda. |
EducationInstitut des Sciences Agronomiques du Rwanda The National Agricultural Research Institute. Kigali Institute of Science, Technology and Management The first public technological institute of higher learning in Rwanda. National University of Rwanda Founded in 1963; university home page (English/French) |
Environment & NatureThe Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International Dedicated to the conservation and protection of the endangered mountain gorilla and its habitat in East Central Africa. International Gorilla Conservation Programme: The goal of IGCP is to ensure the conservation of mountain gorillas and their regional afromontane forest habitat in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). |
© Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund |
HistoryFrontline: the triumph of evil A report on the Rwanda genocide and how the United Nations and the West ignored warnings. Rwanda - A Historical Chronology Rwanda in the XXth century. History of a People Rwandas history from Precolonial times until today. Rwanda -- History by African Studies Center. Rwanda: How the genocide happened BBC article about the genocide. |
© rwandatourism.com |
Issues Rwanda International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda Recognizing that serious violations of humanitarian law were committed in Rwanda, and acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Security Council created the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in 1994. The purpose of this measure is to contribute to the process of national reconciliation in Rwanda and to the maintenance of peace in the region. Ghosts of Rwanda How could it happen, that America and the West stood aside and did nothing to stop the slaughter of 800,000 human beings over 100 days. |
Sources and additional Information about RwandaAfrican Studies WWW - Rwanda Africa South of Sahara (Karen Fung) Rwanda BBC Country Profile: Rwanda Open Directory Project: Rwanda Wikipedia: Rwanda The World Factbook -- Rwanda |
Other Countries of Central Africa Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Dem. Rep. (Kinshasa), Congo, Rep. (Brazzaville) Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe Other Countries of Eastern Africa Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique Réunion, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
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