Rwanda Location:
Physical. Rwanda is located in Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo. Slightly smaller than Maryland, the climate is temperate with two rainy seasons (February to April and November to January) with possible frost and snow in the mountains. The terrain is mostly grassy uplands and hills with mountains that decline in altitude from west to east. Natural resources include gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower and arable land. Deforestation is caused by cutting of trees for fuel. Other environmental problems include: overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching.
Rwanda Geography:
Geography
Area: 26,338 sq km
Capital: Kigali (851,024 - 2005)
Environmental concerns: deforestation from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching
Geographical features: mostly grassy uplands and hills with mountains that decline in altitude from west to east
Climate: temperate with two rainy seasons (February to April and November to January) and possible frost and snow in the mountains
Rwanda People:
People. The most densely populated country in Africa, more than 8.5 million people live in Rwanda. Official languages include: Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official). Kiswahili (Swahili) is used in commercial centers. Ethnically, the country is Hutu (84%), Tutsi (15%), and Twa (Pygmoid - 1%).
Rwanda Government:
Government. Three years after independence from Belgium (in 1959), the Hutus overthrew the ruling Tutsi king and thousands of Tutsis were killed or driven into exile. The children of these exiles formed the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and began a civil war in 1990 that culminated 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. About 10,000 exiled Hutus remain in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo and are bent on retaking Rwanda. Ethnic reconciliation is complicated by the real and perceived Tutsi political dominance. The government in the capital is increasingly centralized and intolerant of dissent, and Rwanda has been involved in two wars with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Rwanda is a republic that is presidential with a multiparty system.
The chief of state President Paul Kagame (since 22 April 2000). The head of the government is Prime Minister Bernard Makuza (since 8 March 2000).
Universal suffrage 18 years of age.
Rwanda Communication:
Communication and transportation
23,200 (2002) main telephone lines in use
38,000 (2005) Internet users
12,000 km of roadways
NA railroads
9 (2005) airports
28,000 motor vehicles (2004)
Rwanda Economy:
Economy. Rwanda is a poor rural country mainly with 90% of the population engaged in subsistence agriculture. Food production often does not keep pace with population growth. Major exports are coffee and tea. The 1994 genocide destroyed Rwanda's economic base and severely impoverished the population, particularly women. Private and external investment has also been stalled. However, Rwanda’s economy has regained pre-1994 levels, although poverty levels are higher now. Rwanda’s economy is dependent on substantial aid money. The government’s high defense expenditures cause international donors and lending agencies much concern. Handicaps to economic growth include: an energy shortage, instability in neighboring states. and the lack of adequate transportation to other countries.
For more information, you may write to the chancery at 1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009; check the U.S. State Department country sites; or type in the country's name on the Internet using a broad-based World Wide Web search engine.
Currency: Rwandan franc
Per capita GDP: $1,500 (2005 est.)
GDP: $12.65 billion (2005 est.)
GDP growth rate: 5.2% (2005 est.)
Inflation rate: 8% (2005 est.)
Labor force: agriculture (90%), industry and services (10%)
Rwanda More Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/rwanda | 
