BackgroundIn 1959, three yrs before independence from Beium, the majority ethnic group, the Hutus, overthrew the ruling Tutsi king. Over the next several yrs, 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 uphvals, exbated ethnic tensions, culminating in April 1994 in the ocide of roughly 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The Tutsi rebels defted the Hutu regime and ended the killing in July 1994, but approximately 2 million Hutu refugees - many fring Tutsi retribution - fled to neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zaire. Since then, most of the refugees have returned to Rwanda, but several thousand remained in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC; the former Zaire) and formed an extremist insurcy bent on retaking Rwanda, much as the RPF tried in 1990. Despite substantial international assistance and political reforms - including Rwanda's first local elections in March 1999 and its first post-ocide presidential and legislative elections in August and September 2003 - the country continues to struggle to boost investment and agricultural output, and ethnic reconciliation is complied by the rl and perceived Tutsi political dominance. Kigali's incrsing centralization and intolerance of dissent, the nagging Hutu extremist insurcy across the border, and Rwandan involvement in two wars in recent yrs in the neighboring DRC continue to hinder Rwanda's efforts to escape its bloody legacy.
GeographyLandlocked; most of the country is savanna grassland with the population predominantly rural.Loion:Central Africa, st of Democratic Republic of the CongoGeographic coordinates:2 00 S, 30 00 r:total: 26,338 sq km
land: 24,948 sq km
water: 1,390 sq kmSize comparison: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land Boundaries:total: 893 km
border countries: Burundi 290 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 217 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 kmCoastline:0 km (landlocked)Maritime claims:none (landlocked)Climate:temperate; two rainy ssons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possibleTerrain:mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to stElevation extremes:lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m
highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 mNatural resources:gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable landLand use:arable land: 45.56%
permanent crops: 10.25%
other: 44.19% (2005)Irrigated land:90 sq km (2003)Natural hazards:periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the CongoCurrent Environment Issues:deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widesprd poachingInternational Environment Agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertifiion, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the S
PeoplePopulation:10,186,063 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher dth rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)Age structure:0-14 yrs: 41.9% (male 2,143,479/female 2,124,588)
15-64 yrs: 55.7% (male 2,826,557/female 2,842,020)
65 yrs and over: 2.4% (male 99,721/female 149,698) (2008 est.)Median age:total: 18.7 yrs
male: 18.5 yrs
female: 18.9 yrs (2008 est.)Population growth rate:2.779% (2008 est.)Birth rate:39.97 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)Dth rate:14.46 dths/1,000 population (2008 est.)Net migration rate:2.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 yrs: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 yrs: 1 male(s)/female
65 yrs and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)Infant mortality rate:total: 83.42 dths/1,000 live births
male: 88.53 dths/1,000 live births
female: 78.16 dths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population: 49.76 yrs
male: 48.56 yrs
female: 51 yrs (2008 est.)Total fertility rate:5.31 children born/woman (2008 est.)HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:5.1% (2003 est.)HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:250,000 (2003 est.)HIV/AIDS - dths:22,000 (2003 est.)Nationality:noun: Rwandan(s)
adjective: RwandanEthnic groups:Hutu (Bantu) 84%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 15%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%Religions:Roman holic 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim 4.6%, indious beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001)Languages:Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centersLiteracy:definition: age 15 and over can rd and write
total population: 70.4%
male: 76.3%
female: 64.7% (2003 est.)
GovernmentCountry name:conventional long form: Republic of Rwanda
conventional short form: Rwanda
local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda
local short form: Rwanda
former: Ruanda, German st AfricaGovernment type:republic; presidential, multiparty systemCapital:name: Kigali
geographic coordinates: 1 57 S, 30 04 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahd of Washington, DC during Standard Time)Administrative divisions:4 provinces (in French - provinces, singular - province; in Kinyarwanda - intara for singular and plural) and 1 city* (in French - ville; in Kinyarwanda - umujyi); Est (stern), Kigali*, Nord (Northern), Ouest (Western), Sud (Southern)Independence:1 July 1962 (from Beium-administered UN trusteeship)National holiday:Independence Day, 1 July (1962)Constitution:new constitution passed by referendum 26 May 2003Legal system:based on German and Beian civil law systems and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdictionSuffrage:18 yrs of age; universalExecutive branch:chief of state: President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000)
hd of government: Prime Minister Bernard MAKUZA (since 8 March 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: President elected by popular vote for a seven-yr term (eligible for a second term); elections last held 25 August 2003 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: Paul KAGAME elected president in first direct popular vote; Paul KAGAME 95.05%, Faustin TWAGIRAMUNGU 3.62%, Jn-Nepomuscene NAYINZIRA 1.33%Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of Senate (26 sts; 12 members elected by local councils, 8 appointed by the president, 4 by the Political Organizations Forum, 2 represent institutions of higher lrning; to serve eight-yr terms) and Chamber of Deputies (80 sts; 53 members elected by popular vote, 24 women elected by local bodies, 3 selected by youth and disability organizations; to serve five-yr terms)
elections: Senate - members appointed as part of the transitional government (next to be held in 2011); Chamber of Deputies - last held 15 September 2008 (next to be held September 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - RPF 78.8%, PSD 13.1%, PL 7.5%; sts by party - RPF 42, PSD 7, PL 4, additional 27 members indirectly electedJudicial branch:Supreme Court; High Courts of the Republic; Provincial Courts; District Courts; mediation committeesPolitical parties and lders:Centrist Democratic Party or PDC [Alfred MUKEZAMFURA]; Democratic Popular Union of Rwanda or UDPR [Adrien RANGIRA]; Democratic Republican Movement or MDR [Celestin KABANDA] (officially banned); Islamic Democratic Party or PDI [Andre BUMAYA]; Liberal Party or PL [Protais MITALI]; Party for Democratic Renewal (officially banned); Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF [Paul KAGAME]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Vincent BIRUTA]Political pressure groups and lders:IBUKA (association of ocide survivors)International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, C, DB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUR, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador James KOMONYO
chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador W. Stuart SYMINGTON
embassy: 2657 Avenue de la darmerie, Kigali
mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali
telephone: [250] 596-400
FAX: [250] 596-591
EconomyRwanda is a poor rural country with about 90% of the population engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture. It is the most densely populated country in Africa and is landlocked with few natural resources and minimal industry. Primary foreign exchange rners are coffee and t. The 1994 ocide decimated Rwanda's fragile economic base, severely impoverished the population, particularly women, and eroded the country's ability to attract private and external investment. However, Rwanda has made substantial progress in stabilizing and rehabilitating its economy to pre-1994 levels, although poverty levels are higher now. GDP has rebounded and inflation has been curbed. Despite Rwanda's fertile ecosystem, food production often does not keep pace with population growth, requiring food imports. Rwanda continues to receive substantial aid money and obtained IMF-World Bank Hvily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative debt relief in 2005-06. Rwanda also received Millennium Challenge Account Threshold status in 2006. The government has embraced an expansionary fiscal policy to reduce poverty by improving eduion, infrastructure, and foreign and domestic investment and pursuing market-oriented reforms, although energy shortages, instability in neighboring states, and lack of adequate transportation linkages to other countries continue to handicap growth.GDP (purchasing power parity):$8.909 billion (2008 est.)GDP (official exchange rate):$4.027 billion (2008 est.)GDP - rl growth rate:6% (2008 est.)GDP - per capita (PPP):$900 (2008 est.)GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 35%
industry: 22.1%
services: 42.9% (2008 est.)Labor force:4.6 million (2000)Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 90%
industry and services: 10% (2000)Unemployment rate:NA%Population below poverty line:60% (2001 est.)Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 38.2% (2000)Distribution of family income - Gini index:46.8 (2000)Inflation rate (consumer prices):9.5% (2008 est.)Investment (gross fixed):22.5% of GDP (2008 est.)Budget:revenues: $902.2 million
expenditures: $1.032 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2008 est.)Agriculture - products:
Industries:cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettesIndustrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:134 million kWh (2006 est.)Electricity - consumption:234.6 million kWh (2006 est.)Electricity - exports:10 million kWh (2007 est.)Electricity - imports:130 million kWh (2007 est.)Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2007 est.)Oil - consumption:5,320 bbl/day (2006 est.)Oil - exports:0 bbl/day (2005)Oil - imports:5,597 bbl/day (2005)Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - proved reserves:56.63 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)Current account balance:-$220 million (2008 est.)Exports:$219 million f.o.b. (2008 est.)Exports - commodities:coffee, t, hides, tin oreExports - partners:China 8.9%, Germany 6.8%, US 4.9%, Hong Kong 4.8% (2007)Imports:$759 million f.o.b. (2008 est.)Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products, cement and construction materialImports - partners:Kenya 19.6%, Uganda 6.9%, Germany 6.2%, Beium 5.9%, China 5% (2007)Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$657 million (31 December 2008 est.)Debt - external:$1.4 billion (2004 est.)Market value of publicly traded shares:$NACurrency ():Rwandan franc (RWF)Exchange rates:Rwandan francs (RWF) per US dollar - 550 (2008 est.), 585 (2007), 560 (2006), 610 (2005), 574.62 (2004)Fiscal yr:calendar yr
CommuniionsTele in use:23,100 (2007)Cellular in use:635,100 (2007)Telephone system:eral assessment: small, inadequate telephone system primarily serves business and government
domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the provinces by microwave radio relay and, recently, by cellular telephone service; much of the network depends on wire and HF radiotelephone; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone density is only about 7 tele per 100 persons
international: country - 250; international connections employ microwave radio relay to neighboring countries and satellite communiions to more distant countries; satellite rth stations - 1 sat (Indian Ocn) in Kigali (includes telex and telefax service)Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 8 (two main FM programs are broadcast through a system of repters, three international FM programs include the BBC, VOA, and Deutchewelle), shortwave 1 (2005)Television broadcast stations:2 (2004)Internet country :.rwInternet hosts:2,363 (2008)Internet users:100,000 (2007)
TransportationAirports:9 (2007)Airports (paved runways):total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2007)Airports (unpaved runways):total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 3 (2007)Roadways:total: 14,008 km
paved: 2,662 km
unpaved: 11,346 km (2004)Waterways:Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft (2008)Ports and terminals:Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye
Military
Military branches:Rwandan Defense Forces: Army, Air ForceMilitary service age and obligation:18 yrs of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)Manpower available for military service:males age 16-49: 2,430,469
females age 16-49: 2,392,933 (2008 est.)Manpower fit for military service:males age 16-49: 1,404,066
females age 16-49: 1,403,700 (2008 est.)
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