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Rwanda at a glance PDF Print E-mail
Saturday, 08 January 2011 08:57


Motto: Ubumwe, Umurimo, Gukunda Igihugu "Unity, Work, Patriotism"
Anthem: Rwanda nziza
Capital: Kigali
Surface area: 26,338 sq. km
Political system: Unitary state with multiparty democracy


Flag:

GREEN: Symbolizes hope for prosperity.
YELLOW: Stands for Wealth.
The Sun and its Golden Yellow Rays: Stands for ever increasing light that guides all the people. They also signify unity, transparency and the fight against ignorance.  
 
Executive branch:

Chief of state: President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000)
Head 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-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held on 9 August 2010 (next to be held in 2017)
Election results: Paul KAGAME elected to a second term as president; Paul KAGAME 93.1%, Jean NTAWUKURIRYAYO 5.1%, Prosper HIGIRO 1.4%, Alvera MUKABAR 0.4%

Legislative branch:

Bicameral Parliament consists of Senate (26 seats; 12 members elected by local councils, 8 appointed by the president, 4 appointed by the Political Organizations Forum, 2 represent institutions of higher learning; members to serve eight-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies (80 seats; 53 members elected by popular vote, 24 women elected by local bodies, 3 selected by youth and disability organizations; members to serve five-year terms)
Elections: Senate - members appointed as part of the transitional government (next to be held in 2011); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 15 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2013)
Election results: percent of vote by party - RPF 78.8%, PSD 13.1%, PL 7.5%; seats by party - RPF 42, PSD 7, PL 4, additional 27 members indirectly elected 
 
Population: Approximately 10,473,282 people ( 2009 est.)
 
Urban population: 18% of total population (2008) 
Age structure:
  • 0-14 years: 42.7% (male 2,309,323/female 2,277,269)
  • 15-64 years: 54.8% (male 2,932,686/female 2,961,300)
  • 65 years and over: 2.5% (male 106,740/female 158,993) (2010 est.) 
 
Demonym: Rwandan, Rwandese
Official languages: English, French and Kinyarwanda . Kiswahili is also used in commercial hubs.

Principal religions: The nation is some 56.5% Roman Catholic, 26% Protestant, 11.1% Adventist, and 4.6% Muslim, original beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001)

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Economy:
GDP (purchasing power parity): $9.061 billion (est 2008), $8.576 billion (2007 est.), $7.952 billion (2006) 
GDP (official exchange rate): $4.027 billion (2008 est.)) 
GDP - real growth rate:7.5% (2008 est.), 6% (2007 est.) , 5.5% (2006 est.) 
GDP - per capita (PPP): $900 (2008 est.) , $900 (2007 est.), $800 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 35% , industry: 22.1% , services: 42.9% (2008 est.)
Currency: Rwandan franc (RWF)
Exchange rates (29 April 2009):
 $1 = Rwf 571.731 
 €1 = Rwf 743.47
 Y1 = Rwf 5.94
 £1 = 833.41


Exports: $219 million f.o.b. (2008 est.) 
Main Exports: coffee and tea
Main Crops: beans, peas, bananas, cassava, sweet potatoes, sorghum, millet, and Irish potatoes 
Imports: $759 million f.o.b. (2008 est.) 
Fiscal year: calendar year

Communication:

Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,300,000 for MTN (est 2009), and 280,000 ( April 2009) for Rwandatel with free roaming packages regional some regional operators both companies have 3G services. MTN introduced Blackberry services also.
Radio broadcast stations: FM 15 (three international FM programs include the BBC, VOA, and DeutcheWelle), SW 1
Television broadcast stations: 1, (international channels are available from DSTV and Star Media Africa)
Calling code: +250
Internet country code:   .rw
Internet hosts: 815 (2010)
Internet users: 450,000 (2009)
Transportation:
  • Airports:9 (2007) 
  • Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 
  • Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 5 
  • Roadways: total: 14,008 km 
  • Waterways: Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft (2006) 
  • Ports and terminals: Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye 
Closest ports: Mombasa, Kenya via Uganda (1760 km by road); Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (1528 km by road) 
Climatic conditions: Tropical but mild because of elevation. Two rainy seasons: March-May and October-November. Frost and snow possible in the mountains.
Average temperature: 24oC (maximum of 34oC during the day and minimum of 10oC at night). Average in Kigali 19oC.

Rwanda today

It is important to note that, fourteen years after the genocide, Rwanda is a very different country from what it was for most of its post-independence history.



Foreign investors speak of it as one of the safest places in Africa, as well as one of the least corrupt, and it is not only their opinion. It is a fact that has been achieved through immense efforts by the Government and the people of Rwanda. Key programs covering Unity and Reconciliation, Decentralization, the Gacaca court system to dispose Genocide cases and other Community/local Government activities have collectively contributed to the peaceful and secure Rwanda of Today!
 
 
Also, Rwanda has a development-oriented Government committed to the transformation of the economy into a regional hub for services and industry. The development Roadmap Vision 2020 specifies development targets for the country. Clean, committed and peaceful, Rwanda is now an investment location well worth considering.

Sources:
 
 






Find the Embassy Of Rwanda in DC 

 
1714 New Hampshire Avenue Northwest 
Washington D.C., DC 20009-2502
Tel: (202) 232-2882  
Closest Subway: Dupont Circle Station
Google Map: Get directions

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