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In 1959, three 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 the genocide of roughly 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
The Tutsi rebels defeated the Hutu regime and ended the killing in July 1994, but approximately 2 million Hutu refugees - many fearing Tutsi retribution - fled to neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and the former Zaire. Since then, most of the refugees have returned to Rwanda, but several thousand remain in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Paul Kagame became President of Rwanda in March 2000. In August of 2003, he won a landslide victory in the first national elections since his government took power in 1994. Under Kagame’s leadership, the country has made a remarkable recovery and is now considered to be a model for developing countries.
Rwanda has achieved stability, international integration and economic growth. The average income over the past ten years has tripled. The current government is one of the most efficient and honest in Africa. It is also regarded as the safest country in East and Central Africa. |
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- Official Name Republic of Rwanda
- Population 9,720,694
- Capital City Kigali (pop. 965,398)
- Currency Rwanda Franc
- Currency Converter
- Languages Kinyarwanda, French, local dialects
- Religions Catholic, traditional beliefs
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- Land Area 24,950 sq km (9,633 sq miles)
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- Latitude/Longitude 2º 00' S, 30º 00' E
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Travel Recommendations Before finalizing and/or making your travel plans to any worldwide destination, we strongly recommend you authenticate and research all of the important details regarding applicable health, passport and visa requirements.
If you require additional assistance, the experienced professionals at Travel Visa Pro can answer all of your questions!
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The climate of Rwanda is made up of two wet seasons and two dry seasons.
The short wet season lasts from October-November, and the main rainy season lasts mid-March to the end of May.
During the dry seasons, which last from December to mid-March and from June to the end of August, frequent light cloud cover yields a pleasant, never stifling, temperature.
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A young dancer, Rwanda...
Lake Bulera, Rwanda...
A cascading waterfall, Rwanda... |
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