RWANDA 

This country is located in the Eastern-central part of Africa. It is a landlocked country and It is bordered to the north by Uganda, to the east by Tanzania, to the south by Burundi and to the west by the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly named Zaire). 

Physical/Geographical Location

It has steep mountains (such as Virunga Mountains) and deep valleys. It has the highest lake in Africa known as Lake Kivu; it is between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Other lakes include Lake Muhazi, Lake Ihema, Lake Rweru, Lake Bulera, Lake Ruhondo (or Luhondo), Lake Mugesera, Lake Cyohoha Sud and so many others.

Rwanda's rivers include River Kagera (Believed to be the source of River Nile), Riiver, river Ruzizi and so many others. 

Language and Religion 

Official languages include Kinyarwanda, French, and English. Kiswahili is in used in the commercial centers.

Religions include: Roman Catholics, Protestants, Adventist, Islam, Traditional beliefs.

History and Genocide

The original inhabitants of Rwanda were people known as TWA who are now nearing extinction. Other inhabitants include the Hutu and Tutsi people. They are believed to speak the same language, share many cultural characteristics and have a history of intermarriage. The differences between these two groups are;

          Occupational that is Hutu were considered to be farmers/ crop growers while the Tutsi were identified as cattle owning elite.   

          Physical appearance that is Tutsi were tall and thin while the Hutu were short and square.

Rwanda was first colonized by the Germans (1894-1916) and during the World War 1, the Belgians took over and they ruled until the country got its independence in 1962. Since the Belgian's policy was "Divide and rule", they allowed the Tutsi, who were the minority, to have dominion over the Hutu (who were the majority). This increased hate rage for the Tutsi by the Hutu. In addition, the Belgians in 1933 established identity card system that identified every Rwandan as Hutu, Tutsi, or f identification during the genocide who was a Tutsi.

After World War II, the more educated and prosperous Tutsi led to the struggle for independence. Accordingly the Belgians became disloyal to the Tutsi and instead they switched to the Hutu. Between 1959 and 1962, the Hutu in revenge killed around 15,000 Tutsi and more than 100000 fled to Uganda and Burundi, the neighboring countries. In 1973, under the government of Juvenal Habyarimana, the remaining Tutsi in Rwanda were stripped off much of their wealth and status.

After 1986 the Tutsi in Uganda formed an organization known as the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) which aimed at overthrowing Habyarimana's government.

In August 1993, at Arusha town of Tanzania, Habyarimuna accepted an internationally-mediated peace treaty which allowed the RPF a share of political power and a military presence in Kigali, Rwanda's capital city.

On April 6, 1994, President Habyarimana's plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile as it approached Kigali airport. The order and speed with which the genocide was launched strongly suggests that the Hutu extremists had decided to rid themselves of their accomodationist president, and implement a "final solution" to the Tutsi "problem" in Rwanda although the people responsible for the murder have never been confirmed.

Within 24 hours of President's jet being drowned, roadblocks were allover Kigali. The Tutsi and taller Hutus (because they were assumed to be Tutsi) were cut to death by the Hutus. Victims who could afford to pay often chose to die from a bullet. Belgium withdrew its troops after the Belgium guards to the Rwandan prime minister, Agathe Uwilingiyimana ( who was also murdered), were tortured and murdered. Government radio encouraged Tutsi to gather at churches, schools in the name of refuge yet in actual sense they it was for easier target by the Hutus. Tutsi women were killed after being raped and also after seeing their relatives being killed.

After the Genocide broke out, on July 4, 1994, the RPF forces took up arms and succeeded in protecting a large number of residents in addition to crushing the Rwandan government resistance. The genocide ended on July 18.

Economy

Rwanda's economy is based on agriculture mainly subsistence farming. Crops grown include cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes, coffee, tea, pyrethrum (used for insecticides), beans and others. Cattles and goats are raised as a sign of wealth and prestige but not as a source of food and income./span>

Rwanda's economy also depends on mining; minerals include tin, gold, tungsten, and natural gas. Manufacturing industries for textiles, soap and food processing type are also found in Rwanda.

Though this page has been carefully researched, the author does not claim expertise on Rwanda.

Please send questions, comments, and corrections to emuseum@mnsu.edu and include the URL.

 Sources

Adam Jones

   1994 Gendercide and Genocide: Case Study Genocide in Rwanda. Electronic Document,

    http://www.gendercide.org/case_rwanda.html accessed on 03/07/2009

Infoplease 

   2009 Rwanda: History, Geography, Government, and Culture. Electronic Document,

     http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107926.html accessed on 03/07/2009

Central Intelligence Agency

   2009 The World Factbook: Rwanda. Electronic Document,

    https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rw.html accessed on 03/07/2009

Written By Esther Nalubwama,  2009