The land of a thousand hills, with endless expansive lush mountains and diverse natural beauty lies with in the great lakes region of central Africa and boasts a moderate climate. Mountains dominate the centre and west of the country, while the east consists of savannah, plains and swamps.
Rwanda is a small, landlocked country located in Central and East Africa bordering different countries like Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south and Democratic Republic of Congo to the west. The county is known for its highly elevated surface area thus referring it to as the ‘’land of a thousand hills’’. Tourism in Rwanda is very important due to its stunning landscapes, unique wildlife, and remarkable recovery from a tragic history.
Where is Rwanda?
Rwanda is bordered by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south and the Democratic republic of Congo to the west. Despite being landlocked and one of Africa’s smallest countries, 26,338 sq km, Rwanda has an incredible treasure trove of diversity that requires protection. The Albertine-rift eco- zone (ARE), a region that stretches across six countries with Rwanda as its epi-centre, is of particular importance as it has an exceptional level of species endemism. Scientists regard it as having the highest levels of diversity on the continent.
Rwanda Tourism
The nature lover will be impressed by the variety and the rarity of what can be observed visiting Rwanda, but there is more to Rwanda than protected mountain gorillas and Albertine endemics. The shores of Lake Kivu boast some of the best inland beaches in Africa and offer an opportunity to explore the many small islands of Lake Kivu.
Kigali, the capital and conference hub of east Africa, forms a central stepping stone to various destinations with in the country and cent5ral and east Africa. The city is green, vibrant, safe and brews superb home grown tea and coffee.
Rwanda Genocide
Although Rwanda is all too often associated with the 1994 genocide that resulted in the mass murder of as much as 20% of the country’s total population, the country is taking giant strides towards cultural recovery and investment in the future.
In 1959, 3 years before independence from Belgium, 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 a state-orchestrated genocide, in which Rwandans killed up to a million of their fellow citizens, including approximately three-quarters of the Tutsi population. The genocide ended later that same year when the predominantly Tutsi RPF, operating out of Uganda and northern Rwanda, defeated the national army and Hutu militias, and established an RPF-led government of national unity. Approximately 2 million Hutu refugees – many fearing Tutsi retribution – fled to neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and former 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 insurgency bent on retaking Rwanda, much as the RPF did in 1990. Rwanda held its first local elections in 1999 and its first post-genocide presidential and legislative elections in 2003. Rwanda in 2009 staged a joint military operation with the Congolese Army in DRC to rout out the Hutu extremist insurgency there, and Kigali and Kinshasa restored diplomatic relations. Rwanda also joined the Commonwealth in late 2009. In January 2013, Rwanda assumed a non permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2013-14 terms.
Population:
As per the research last made in 2021, Rwanda had a population of approximately 12 million people.Rwanda hosts over 12,337,138 people, it is the 73rd largest country in the world by population. It is the 147th largest country in the world by area with 26,338 square kilometers.
Language:
The country’s principal and national language in Rwanda is Kinyarwanda which is virtually spoken by the entire country (almost 98%). During the colonial era, the major European languages used were German though it wasn’t widely used and then French which was introduced by Belgium from 1961 and remained official and widely spoken language even after independence in 1962. Also, Dutch was also among the languages spoken and later in 1990s English was also introduced after the return of the English-speaking Rwandan refugees. Currently, the official languages of Rwanda are Kinyarwanda, French, English and Swahili. Kinyarwanda is the national language, English is the primary medium of instruction in secondary and tertiary education, Swahili is the bridge language of the East African Community, and also spoken by some people as a second language.
History:
Rwanda’s history is marked by ethnic tensions and political upheaval. Pre-colonial Rwanda saw relative harmony between the Twa, Hutu, and Tutsi ethnic groups. Colonial powers exacerbated divisions, categorizing people based on ethnicity. Independence in 1962 shifted power from Tutsi to Hutu elites, leading to instability. A 1973 coup brought relative stability under Hutu leadership. In 1990, a civil war erupted, culminating in the 1994 genocide, where around 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu were killed. The Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) led by Paul Kagame ended the genocide. Since then, Rwanda has made significant progress in various areas, though there are criticisms of political freedoms and human rights. Efforts towards reconciliation and development continue.
Economy:
Since the end of the Rwanda Genocide of 1994, the country has been ranked among the most peaceful and stable countries in the world both socially and politically. Economically, Rwanda practices agriculture, mining and tourism which have greatly led to its development. Currently, President Paul Kagame and his party RPF hold the power in the country.
Rwanda’s economy has been growing steadily, and the country has made efforts to diversify its economic base beyond agriculture. The country’s economy suffered heavily during the 1994 genocide since there was a widespread loss of lives, looting, neglect of important cash crops and also failure to maintain infrastructure. This incident led to the large drop of the GDP and destroyed the country’s ability to attract private and external investment.
After 1994, the economy strengthened and the major markets of the country include China, Germany and United States. The country’s economy is managed by the Central National Bank of Rwanda and the currency is Rwandan Franc. The key economic sectors of Rwanda include; agriculture, mining, tourism, and services. Coffee and tea are important export crops. Also, the government has focused on promoting technology and innovation to drive economic development.
Culture
Rwanda has been a unified state since before colonialism with one main ethnic group, the Banyarwanda, and a shared language. Traditional dance and music play a significant role in cultural expression, and visitors can often experience these during cultural performances and the most well-known dance is Intore, which has three components, a ballet, a dance of heroes, and the drums. Drums are very important and royal drummers have always had high status.
Also, the has a history of traditional arts and crafts, especially woven bowls and baskets. Cow dung art is noted in south east Rwanda. The Rwandan people are known for their warmth and hospitality.
Healthcare and Education:
Rwanda has made significant strides in improving healthcare and education, with a focus on accessibility and quality. For a period of nine years now, there is free education in the country and there’s a plan of extending it for other additional three years. For higher education, Rwanda has established many institutions including the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, the National University of Rwanda and others.