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NAVIGATION
Rwandese Republic
Republika y'u Rwanda
GOVERNMENT
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Rwandese Republic
conventional short form: Rwanda local short form: Rwanda former: Ruanda local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda |
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Government type:
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republic; presidential, multiparty system |
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Capital:
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Kigali |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 1 July (1962) |
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Constitution:
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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 |
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Legal system:
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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 |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal adult |
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Executive branch:
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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 June 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 |
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Legislative branch:
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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 election results: seats by party under the Arusha peace accord - 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 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 (next to be held NA June 2003) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court; communal courts; appeals courts |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Centrist Democratic Party or PDC [Jean-Nipomuscene NAYINZIRA]; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [leader NA]; Democratic Popular Union of Rwanda or UDPR [leader NA]; Democratic Republican Movement or MDR [Celestin KABANDA]; Islamic Democratic Party or PDI [Andre BUMAYA]; Liberal Party or PL [Pie MUGABO]; Party for Democratic Renewal (officially banned) [Pasteur BIZIMURGI and Charilg NTAKIROTINKA]; Rwanda Patriotic Army or RPA [Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME, commander]; Rwanda Patriotic Front or FPR [Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME]; Rwandan Socialist Party or PSR [leader NA] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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IBUKA - association of genocide survivors |
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Richard SEZIBERA
chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009 FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544 telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Margaret K. McMILLION
embassy: #337 Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali telephone: [250] 50 56 01 through 03 FAX: [250] 57 2128 |
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Flag description:
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three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double width), yellow, and green, with a golden sun with 24 rays near the fly end of the blue band |
ECONOMY
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Economy - overview:
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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; landlocked with 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. Rwanda received approval for debt relief from the IMF in late 2000 and continued to make progress on inflation, privatization, and GDP growth in 2001. However, export earnings were hindered by low global coffee prices, depriving the country of much needed hard currency. President KAGAME is encouraging investors to take advantage of export opportunities in Rwanda based on its membership in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) free trade area and its access to the US and the EU markets through preferential trade agreements. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $7.2 billion (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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5% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2001 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 46%
industry: 20% services: 34% (2000 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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70% (2000 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 24% (1983-85) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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29 (1983-85 ) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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5% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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3.6 million |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 90% |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA% |
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Budget:
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revenues: $199.3 million
expenditures: $445 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.) |
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Industries:
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cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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7% (2001 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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113 million kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 3%
hydro: 97% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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174.09 million kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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1 million kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - imports:
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70 million kWh (2000) |
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Agriculture - products:
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coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock |
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Exports:
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$61 million f.o.b. (2001 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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coffee, tea, hides, tin ore |
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Exports - partners:
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EU 56.9%, Pakistan 12.3%, US 9.2%, China 4.4% Malaysia 4.4% (2000 est.) |
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Imports:
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$248 million f.o.b. (2001 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products, cement and construction material |
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Imports - partners:
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Kenya 29.4%, EU 28%, US 10%, India 4.4%, Tanzania 2.2% (2000 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$1.3 billion (2000 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$372.9 million (1999) |
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Currency:
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Rwandan franc (RWF) |
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Currency code:
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RWF |
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Exchange rates:
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Rwandan francs per US dollar - 456.81 (January 2002), 442.99 (2001), 389.70 (2000), 333.94 (1999) 312.31 (1998), 301.53 (1997) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |