Rwanda

Rwanda is a landlocked country in East Africa bordered by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital and largest city is Kigali. The country has a population in the range of about 13 to 14 million. The main ethnic groups are Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa, with Kinyarwanda as the most widely spoken language alongside official languages French and English; Swahili is increasingly used in business.

Rwanda is known for its mountainous terrain, earning the nickname the “land of a thousand hills.” It contains parts of the volcanic Virunga Mountains and the Nyungwe Forest, and lies within the Albertine Rift. Lake Kivu forms part of its western border. The country supports diverse habitats, including montane forests, highlands, and savannas.

Historically governed as a monarchy before the colonial era, Rwanda became a Belgian colony after World War I. In 1994, the country experienced a devastating genocide that caused mass loss of life and long-term trauma. Since the late 1990s, the government led by the Rwanda Patriotic Front has pursued stabilization and development, centralizing political authority while promoting national reconciliation. The Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, and the president serves as both head of state and government. The current president, Paul Kagame, has held office since 2000.

Rwanda’s economy has grown rapidly since the early 2000s, with services, agriculture, and tourism as key sectors. Coffee and tea are important exports, and the country has invested in information technology and urban development. Tourism, especially mountain gorilla and wildlife safaris in protected parks, is a major source of foreign exchange. Vision 2050 outlines plans to transform Rwanda into a knowledge-based, middle-income economy.