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About Rwanda
The Republic of Rwanda known as the Land of a Thousand Hills, is a landlocked country located in the Great Lakes region of eastern-central Africa, bordered by Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania.
Although close to the equator, the country has a cool temperate climate due to its high elevation. The terrain consists mostly of grassy uplands and gently rolling hills. Abundant wildlife, including rare mountain gorillas, have resulted in tourism becoming one of the biggest sectors of the country's economy.
Rwanda has received considerable international attention due to its 1994 genocide, in which an estimated 800,000 people were killed. [4] Since then the country has made a recovery and is now considered as a model for developing countries. In 2009 a CNN report labeled Rwanda as Africa's biggest success story, having achieved stability, economic growth (average income has tripled in the past ten years) and international integration. [5] The government is widely seen as one of the more efficient and honest ones in Africa. In 2007 Fortune magazine published an article titled "Why CEOs Love Rwanda." [6] The capital, Kigali, is the first city in Africa to awarded the Habitat Scroll of Honor Award in the recognition of its "cleanliness, security and urban conservation model." [7] In 2008, Rwanda became the first country to elect a national legislature in which a majority of members were women. [8] Rwanda joined the Commonwealth of Nations on 29 November 2009 as its fifty-fourth member, [9] making the country one of only two in the Commonwealth without a British colonial past. [10]
To learn more about Rwanda, go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwanda
Source: http://www.wikipedia.org/
Rwanda Facts
A quick reference guide about Rwanda's geography, government, economy and people.
Geography
- Location: Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Terrain: Mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east
- Natural resources: Gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land
- Environment issues: Deforestation from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching
People
- Current population estimate: 10,746,311
- Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa
Government
- Chief of State: President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000)
- Elections: President elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held 25 August 2003 (next to be held in 9 August 2010)
- Legal System: 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
Economy
- Rwanda is a poor rural country with about 85% of the population engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture and some mineral and agro-processing. In 2008, minerals overtook coffee and tea as Rwanda's primary foreign exchange earner.
- Labor Force: 4.446 million (2007)
Source: http://www.cia.gov/
Maps
A guide to maps of Africa, Rwanda and the Gishwati Forest Reserve.
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