| 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. |
| Location: |
Central Africa,
east of Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
2 00 S, 30 00 E |
| Area: |
total:
26,338 sq km
land: 24,948 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
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 km |
| Coastline: |
0 km (landlocked) |
| Maritime
claims: |
none (landlocked) |
| Climate: |
temperate; two
rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild
in mountains with frost and snow possible |
| Terrain: |
mostly grassy
uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude
declining from west to east |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Rusizi River 950 m
highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m |
| Natural
resources: |
gold, cassiterite
(tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower,
arable land |
| Land
use: |
arable land:
35%
permanent crops: 13%
permanent pastures: 18%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 12% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
40 sq km (1993
est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
periodic
droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the
northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the
Congo |
| Environment
- current issues: |
deforestation
results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel;
overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread
poaching |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
| Geography
- note: |
landlocked;
predominantly rural population |
| Population: |
7,312,756
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 and death rates, lower population and
growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population
by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001
est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
42.4% (male 1,555,878; female 1,544,942)
15-64 years: 54.73% (male 1,989,501; female
2,013,012)
65 years and over: 2.87% (male 83,769; female
125,654) (2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
1.16% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
33.97
births/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
21.13
deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
-1.21 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Sex
ratio: |
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2001
est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
118.92
deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 38.99 years
male: 38.35 years
female: 39.65 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
4.89 children
born/woman (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
11.21% (1999
est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
400,000 (1999
est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
40,000 (1999
est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun:
Rwandan(s)
adjective: Rwandan |
| Ethnic
groups: |
Hutu 84%, Tutsi
15%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1% |
| Religions: |
Roman Catholic
52.7%, Protestant 24%, Adventist 10.4%, Muslim 1.9%,
indigenous beliefs and other 6.5%, none 4.5% (1996) |
| Languages: |
Kinyarwanda
(official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official),
English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial
centers |
| Literacy: |
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48%
male: 52%
female: 45% (1995 est.) |
| Country
name: |
conventional
long form: Rwandese Republic
conventional short form: Rwanda
local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda
local short form: Rwanda
former: Ruanda |
| Government
type: |
republic;
presidential, multiparty system |
| Administrative
divisions: |
12 prefectures
(in French - prefectures, singular - prefecture; in
Kinyarwanda - plural - NA, singular - prefegitura); Butare,
Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi, Gitarama, Kibungo,
Kibuye, Kigali Rurale, Kigali-ville, Umutara, Ruhengeri |
| Independence: |
1 July 1962 (from
Belgium-administered UN trusteeship) |
| National
holiday: |
Independence Day,
1 July (1962) |
| Constitution: |
on 5 May 1995,
the Transitional National Assembly adopted as Fundamental
Law the constitution of 18 June 1991, provisions of the 1993
Arusha peace accord, the July 1994 Declaration by the Rwanda
Patriotic Front, and the November 1994 multiparty protocol
of understanding |
| Legal
system: |
based on German
and Belgian civil law systems and customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age;
universal adult |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of
state: President Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME (FPR)
(since 22 April 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Bernard
MAKUZA (since 8 March 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the
president
elections: normally the president is elected by
popular vote for a five-year term; special election for new
president by deputies of the National Assembly and
governmental ministers held 17 April 2000 (next national
election to be held NA 2003); prime minister is appointed by
the president
election results: Paul KAGAME (FPR) elected
president in a special parliamentary/ministerial ballot
receiving 81 of a possible 86 votes |
| Legislative
branch: |
unicameral
Transitional National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale de
Transition (a power-sharing body with 70 seats established
on 12 December 1994 following a multiparty protocol of
understanding; members were named by their parties, number
of seats per party predetermined by the Arusha peace accord)
note: four additional seats, two for women and
two for youth, added in 2001
elections: the last national legislative
elections were held 16 December 1988 for the National
Development Council (the legislature prior to the advent of
the Transitional National Assembly); no elections have been
held for the Transitional National Assembly as the
distribution of seats was predetermined by the Arusha peace
accord
election results: percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - FPR 13, MDR 13, PSD 13, PL 13, PDC 6,
RPA 6, PSR 2, PDI 2, UDPR 2; note - the distribution of
seats was predetermined, four additional seats (two for
women and two for youth) added in 2001 |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court;
communal courts; appeals courts |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Centrist
Democratic Party or PDC [Jean-Nipomuscene NAYINZIRA];
Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Charles NTAKIRUTINKA,
Vincent BIRUTA, Augusin IYAMUREMYE]; Democratic Popular
Union of Rwanda or UDPR [Adrien RANGIRA]; Democratic
Republican Movement or MDR [Celestin KABANDA, Emile
NTWARABAKIGA, Christian MARARA]; Islamic Democratic Party or
PDI [Andre BUMAYA]; Liberal Party or PL [Pie MUGABO, Enock
KABERA, Prosper MUGIRANEZA]; Rwanda Patriotic Army or RPA
[Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME, commander]; Rwanda Patriotic Front
or FPR [Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME]; Rwandan Socialist Party or
PSR [Medard RUTIJANWA] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
IBUKA -
association of genocide survivors |
| International
organization participation: |
ACCT, ACP, AfDB,
CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Richard SEZIBERA
chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544 |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador George M. STAPLES
embassy: Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali
mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali
telephone: [250] 756 01 through 03, 721 26, 771
47
FAX: [250] 721 28 |
| Flag
description: |
three equal
vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green with a
large black letter R centered in the yellow band; uses the
popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag
of Guinea, which has a plain yellow band |
| Economy
- overview: |
Rwanda is a rural
country with about 90% of the population engaged in (mainly
subsistence) agriculture. It is the most densely populated
country in Africa; is landlocked; and has few natural
resources and minimal industry. Primary exports are coffee
and tea. The 1994 genocide 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 significant progress in stabilizing and rehabilitating
its economy. GDP has rebounded, and inflation has been
curbed. In June 1998, Rwanda signed an Enhanced Structural
Adjustment Facility (ESAF) with the IMF. Rwanda has also
embarked upon an ambitious privatization program with the
World Bank. Continued growth in 2001 depends on the
maintenance of international aid levels and the
strengthening of world prices of coffee and tea. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $6.4 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
5.8% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $900 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture:
40%
industry: 20%
services: 40% (2000 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
70% (2000 est.) |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
4.2%
highest 10%: 24.2% (1983-85) |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
4% (2000) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture 90% |
| Budget: |
revenues:
$198 million
expenditures: $411 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) |
| Industries: |
cement,
agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap,
furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
8.7% (1998 est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
132 million kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
3.03%
hydro: 96.97%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
191.8 million kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
1 million kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
70 million kWh
(1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
coffee, tea,
pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas,
beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock |
| Exports: |
$68.4 million
(f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
coffee, tea,
hides, tin ore |
| Exports
- partners: |
Germany, Belgium,
Pakistan, Italy, Kenya |
| Imports: |
$245.9 million
(f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
foodstuffs,
machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products, cement
and construction material |
| Imports
- partners: |
Kenya, Tanzania,
US, Benelux, France, India |
| Debt
- external: |
$1.3 billion
(1999) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$591.5 million
(1997); note - in summer 1998, Rwanda presented its policy
objectives and development priorities to donor governments
resulting in multiyear pledges in the amount of $250 million |
| Currency: |
Rwandan franc (RWF) |
| Exchange
rates: |
Rwandan francs
per US dollar - 432.24 (January 2001), 389.70 (2000), 333.94
(1999) 312.31 (1998), 301.53 (1997), 306.82 (1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
15,000 (1995) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
NA
note: however, Rwanda has mobile cellular
service between Kigali and several prefecture capitals
(2000) |
| Telephone
system: |
general
assessment: telephone system primarily serves
business and government
domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to
the centers of the prefectures by microwave radio relay; the
remainder of the network depends on wire and HF
radiotelephone
international: international connections employ
microwave radio relay to neighboring countries and satellite
communications to more distant countries; satellite earth
stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) in Kigali (includes
telex and telefax service) |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 0, FM 3,
shortwave 1 (1998) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
2 (1997) |
| Televisions: |
NA; probably less
than 1,000 (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.rw |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
1 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
1,000 (2000) |
| Highways: |
total:
12,000 km
paved: 1,000 km
unpaved: 11,000 km (1997 est.) |
| Waterways: |
note:
Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Cyangugu, Gisenyi,
Kibuye |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total:
4
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total:
4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
Army, Navy, Air
Force |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age
15-49: 1,815,633 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age
15-49: 924,544 (2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$58 million
(FY01) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
3.2% (FY01) |
| Disputes
- international: |
Rwandan military
forces are supporting the rebel forces in the civil war in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
|
