The first republic was then put in place and Kayibanda , a Hutu, became president of the Republic in 1961. The new regime faces attacks by Tutsi exiles, which are the pretext for violent crackdown on the Tutsi from within, particularly in December 1963 when thousands of Tutsis were massacred .

To maintain political unity, Kayibanda exploits the mass killings that the victims were Hutus in Burundi in 1972, he justified fear of a threat of Rwandan Tutsis. The Tutsi, students and teachers, are systematically expelled from teaching, some slain in schools. These events cause a new wave of exodus of the Tutsi. Exploiting those events, Juvenal Habyarimana immediately reverses Kayibanda in July 1973, he founded a party in 1975 , the National Revolutionary Movement for Development (MRND). The same year, French President Giscard d'Estaing signs a particular Military Assistance Agreement with the Rwandan government. Between 1987 and 1994, regular shipments of military equipment to Rwanda will be made by France for a value of 591 million francs (equivalent to military agreements that France has with all its former colonies) . In 1978 , Habyarimana change the constitution and passed a one-party, the MRND, which all Rwandans are ex officio members.

Tutsi exiles organized in Uganda and create the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) in 1987. On October ^1, 1990 , from Uganda, the RPF comes into force in northern Rwanda. France from October 4, 1990, Zaire, whose troops also fight the RPF, and Belgium intervene briefly to help evacuate Westerners. The French military support will be maintained under the name Operation Turquoise to the implementation of UN troops (UNAMIR commanded by General Dallaire ) in December 1993. The legality of Operation Turquoise is questionable, as will recognize the general Quesnot in a note dated 26 June 1994 addressed to President Mitterrand . The Cooperation Minister Robert Galley testify that the French army has been used to stop the RPF advance . The official number of French soldiers participating in Chillwind reach 688 people . Eight to ten thousand Tutsis were imprisoned in October 1990 . The Rwandan army massacre Bahima 1000 (related to Tutsi) in Mutare, and 348 Tutsis in the region Kibilara . 15 October 1990, France's ambassador to Rwanda, Georges Martres, sent a telegram to the Chief of Staff of President Mitterrand, in which he mentions the risk of genocide against the Tutsi . Despite this warning, the French government will continue to assist the Habyarimana regime. In 1991 Tutsi groups are run by Hutu extremists. From its rear bases in Uganda and established with support equipment and men of the Ugandan army, the RPF will gradually establish a bridgehead north of Rwanda where the fighting will continue until 1994. They are the cause of significant travel to the capital of the Hutu population who fled the massacres and other atrocities attributed to the RPF in the area it occupies always larger in the north.

Following the La Baule speech of Franois Mitterrand , Juvenal Habyarimana did change the Constitution in 1991 to form the multiparty system. Under pressure from the international community, successive agreements of Arusha , negotiated in Tanzania with the RPF and signed in August 1993 , provide for organizing the return of exiled Tutsi and the political and military integration of the various internal components and external the Rwandan nation. Parallel entourage Juvenal Habyarimana and his wife Agathe, who also controls the army and the country's economy, creating in 1992 the Coalition for the Defence of the Republic (CDR) militia Interahamwe and the Mille Collines radio (RTLM), which will be the main organs of the 1994 genocide and s'autoqualifieront of Hutu Power. The Rwandan government media play a significant role of anti-Tutsi propaganda before and during the genocide. Thus, RTLM called the killing of Tutsis in 1992. Belgian Ambassador Johan Swinnen reported in Brussels that RTLM broadcasts these calls for the extermination of Tutsis . The Rwandan newspaper Kangura, another member of "hate media", published December 10, 1990 the "Ten Commandments of the Hutu", text calls for racist anti-Tutsi hatred . During the period 1990-1993, political assassinations , the massacres of Tutsi populations by government forces will be considered by an international commission of inquiry conducted in 1993 as the beginnings of genocide . but the FDLR refugees in DRC

Genocide

On the evening of 6 April 1994 , the presidents of Rwanda and Burundi and the Chief of Staff Rwanda die in an attack on the Rwandan presidential plane. The next day the Prime Minister, Mrs Agathe Uwilingiyimana , and other moderate leaders, ten Belgian soldiers of the United Nations Mission ( UNAMIR ), and two French NCOs, military cooperation, and the wife of One of them is murdered. The death of President Habyarimana is the initial fact of Rwandan genocide. The Rwandan government is formed soon run called moderate Hutu, who advocated dialogue with the RPF, and could hamper the implementation of the genocide, and then ensued the genocide of Tutsis. Rwandans are also victims of the civil war between the RAF government and the RPA , the armed wing of the exiled Tutsi RPF. Finally, Hutus, executed without trial as genocidal, and sometimes their families, are victims of retaliation by soldiers of the RPF .

The interim government is led by former Prime Minister Jean Kambanda , who pleaded guilty before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and was sentenced in 1998 to life imprisonment for genocide and crimes against humanity . The alleged mastermind of the genocide, as the prosecutor of the ICTR , is Colonel Bagosora , sentenced to life imprisonment in 2008. At least 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu were massacred by the UN, more than a million Rwandese authorities said, and more according to some authors, who point out that the declaration of civil status at birth was not compulsory in Rwanda.

This genocide was one of four genocides of the ^twentieth century recognized by international institutions ^{Controversy over a "double genocide"}

The genocide in Rwanda is the subject of a denial. It denies the existence of a share of the genocide and also that of complicity in the events. In addition, the denial is based on the theory of "double genocide", which tends to highlight an aspect ethnic conflict.

However, decisions of the international community, including the UN , the OAU and the Rwandan parliament, Belgian and French . Bernard Kouchner , Minister of Foreign Affairs , declared in March 2008 in the journal Defense and National Security Group , whose study committee is chaired by General Christian Quesnot , former Chief of Staff of Franois Mitterrand:

"I can not support this simplistic view and shameful fact that the Tutsi leaders of their own misfortune, any more than I can bear to hear some defend the thesis of a double genocide Tutsi and Hutu . "

A political transition - from 1994 to 2003

On 4 July 1994 , the RPF took the capital, Kigali.

On July 19 , a government is established on the basis of the Arusha Accords. A period of political transition is declared.

Pasteur Bizimungu became president. But the strongman of Rwanda is Major General Paul Kagame , Vice-President and Minister of Defence, co-founder of the RPF, Tutsi former exile in Uganda.

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda was established by the UN late 1994.

In 1996 , to overcome the genocidal folded in Zaire , Rwanda, Uganda and allied with the rebels in eastern Zaire, invaded Zaire and helps the rebel front led by Laurent Desire Kabila , who overthrew him in 1997 the Zaire President Mobutu Sese Seko.

Pasteur Bizimungu resigned in 2000. Paul Kagame was elected president by the National Assembly.

Rwanda is faced with a need for justice, which clogs the courts and brought to the rehabilitation of traditional justice, Gacaca.

In 2002 , the former president, Pasteur Bizimungu is arrested and jailed. The Democratic Republican Movement is dissolved by the members.

Rwanda since the 2003 elections

Rwanda is developing a bold foreign policy. It sends peacekeepers in Rwanda in Darfur. A Rwandan holds responsibility within the African Union. Democratic Republic of Congo, the problem of FDLR is taken seriously by the international community. The Minister of Rwanda's economy becomes President of the African Development Bank in 2005. Rwanda is among the countries that receive substantial debt relief in July 2005 by the G8. Rwanda has undoubtedly a favorable current in the international diplomacy that is probably due to the pugnacity diplomatic convincing its leaders.

The Gacaca entering its operational phase in January 2005. Gradually, Rwandans realize that they must fear that mob justice reorganized and six thousand of them fled to Burundi where they are returned to Rwanda, who vainly tried to pity the international community and the NGOs on their fate.

In late November 2006, the French anti-terrorist judge Jean-Louis Bruguiere launches international arrest warrants against nine close to President Kagame, whom he suspects of being involved in the destruction of the presidential aircraft in 1994. This judge is assigned to the case concerning the death of the French crew who was flying the aircraft. In response, the Rwandan government breaks off diplomatic relations with France expels Dominique Decherf France's ambassador in Kigali, as well as all diplomatic personnel and 25,000 people demonstrated against the French government in the African capital.

On April 6, 2007 the former president Pasteur Bizimungu was pardoned by President Paul Kagame and out of prison.

On 29 November 2009, following a meeting in Kigali between the Secretary General of the French Presidency, Claude Gueant, and President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, the two countries decided to resume diplomatic relations broken off for three years . This event follows a gradual improvement of the situation, with an acceleration since mid-November 2009, when two French judges had gone to Rwanda to investigate cases of alleged perpetrators of the genocide fled to France (it is including cases of Wenceslas Munyeshyaka and Laurent Bucyibaruta, but the case of the widow of former President Agatha Habyarimana) .

Coincidence or not, this renewed relations between France and Rwanda came just hours after the accession of Rwanda in the Commonwealth.

Geography

Physical Geography

Nyungwe Forest, south-west Rwanda

Rwanda is part of the African Great Lakes.

Called the land of a thousand hills, Rwanda is bordered by a chain of volcanoes high (3500 to 4500 meters), east by the marshes of Akagera, south-east by the marshes of Bugesera southwest by the forest of Nyungwe , setting the source of the Nile , and west by the huge and beautiful Lake Kivu. The capital, Kigali , is 1400 meters above sea level and much of the country is above this level. Although located just below the equator , because of the altitude, Rwanda has a pleasant climate and average temperatures of 18-20 degrees, sometimes less in some mountainous areas. The country lacks neither rain nor water. The high altitude forests (down) maintain water reserves that feed rivers in drier periods (June-August). Sometimes there is still some years of drought.

The scenery is very lush, undulating, frequently covered with banana plantations and abundant rivers. In the valleys and hills to the top of the small plots cultivated by hoe, crisscross the countryside. Sometimes a few cows with big horns vigils are off by a kid. Large clouds in the blue sky bugger. Few villages. The habitat is scattered in the hills. The houses are brick or brick earth ocher clay for the most opulent, always in a fenced garden, except sometimes at roadside. The barred windows. The roofs are of sheet metal, tiles sometimes.

The thousand hills of Rwanda (Gitarama region)

The main roads linking Kigali and the major provincial towns are in good condition or being repaired, but other roads, red soil furrowed, are often poor. Whatever their status, they are never empty, and represent, according to population movements, the presence of the markets. Goods purchased or sold are transported in pick-up Japanese on the head or on bikes, sometimes even on massive wooden bikes (igicugutu in Kinyarwanda ) that seem to have no limit of capacity. Many taxis "18 seats" carry people over longer distances. The general atmosphere gives an impression particularly peaceful in contrast with recent history. Occasionally heavy rain soaking the landscape, then the sun reappears.

See also: Cities in Rwanda

Geography administrative

Rwanda is divided into four provinces and Kigali City:

• Southern Province
• Western Province
• Northern Province
• Eastern Province
• Kigali City : its status is unique, headed by a mayor and consists of 3 districts.

These provinces are subdivided into 30 districts and these into 416 sectors.

Population and Society

Demographics

Demographic changes between 1961 and 2003 (figure in FAO , 2005). Population in thousands .

According to the World Refugee Survey 2008 published by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants ( U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants ), Rwanda was home to about 54,200 refugees and asylum seekers in 2007, including 51,300 of the Republic Congo (Congo - Kinshasa), over 2900 of Burundi, and some other countries . In 2001, the population living below the poverty line is estimated at 60% .

Rwandan medicine based on plants is still alive, despite the integration of Western medicine.

Education

Youth Center, Gatenga. A project of the German humanitarian organization Aktion Tagwerk.

Between 2000 and 2007, the government spends 19% of its budget for education ^Languages

The French and the Kinyarwanda , were the official languages of Rwanda since the Belgian presence in the early ^twentieth century. President Juvenal Habyarimana had first removed the teaching of French in primary schools but was reinstated after the genocide of the Tutsi government of national unity . Nevertheless, the strained relations between the new government and France since the 1994 genocide , the return of many Tutsis who grew up in Uganda (English) and the alignment of the country with the United States , bringing government want to replace French with English ^, . It became an official language in 2003 next to the Kinyarwanda and French who were already. In 2008, English became the sole language of public education in lieu of French ^, .

Culture

Rwandan traditional culture is linked to that of African populations of large lakes.

The traditional belief in one God, Imana, sensitive to their condition, oral histories, language and proverbs, songs, drums and dance have an important place in this culture strongly imbued with fighting warriors and agricultural activities : farming and agriculture, and in lesser part, hunting and fishing.

Rwandan children in the Volcanoes National Park

Since colonization, western clothes was released but the kilt of cotton remains a very important link for women between tradition and modernity.

The population is grouped into family clans, allocated on a different plane, in 3 components: Hutu, Tutsi and Twa. A census of 1996 also referred to several minorities: Banyenkombo (approximately 57 000 individuals), Bagogwe (500 to 1500 people) and Banyambo (400 individuals).

Rwandan traditional culture has been strongly influenced by German and Belgian colonization (1894-1961), Christian churches (90% of Rwandans are Christians) and the 1994 genocide.

Christianity, writing, cars, football, radio and television, cinema, computer, telephone, reference to citizenship begin to disrupt profoundly the attitudes.

Religions

According to official statistics in Rwanda in 2006, 56.5% of the population was Catholic, Protestant 37.1%, 4.6% Muslim, 1.7% and 0.1% no religion "religion trationnelle" . The 37.1% of Protestants include followers of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and Jehovah's Witnesses.

Politics

Rwanda is a republic , presidential. The President is elected by universal suffrage , the parliament consists of two chambers: the National Assembly and Senate. Political parties, regardless of their usual activities, meet in a consultative forum, in which decisions are taken by consensus.

The judiciary comprises the Supreme Court, the High Court of the Republic, courts of provinces, the District Courts and Cities, and specialized courts: the Gacaca (traditional village court), military, etc..

Politics of Rwanda is strongly influenced by the consequences of genocide of Tutsis in 1994 , the context of underdevelopment and instability in Africa's Great Lakes ( Burundi , Uganda , eastern Democratic Republic of Congo ).

On 8 June 2007 , the National Assembly of Rwanda abolished the death penalty for any kind of doomed. This measure came into force July 25, 2007, and will see the direct effect of 600 death row inmates have their sentences converted to life imprisonment. The abolition of the death penalty was one of the requirements of the international community that the judicial proceedings against genocide whose file is dealt with by the ICTR to be transferred to Rwandan national jurisdiction in anticipation of the dissolution of International Tribunal for Rwanda in 2008. The Portuguese Presidency of the European Union welcomed the abolition of the death penalty as "a fundamental step towards the promotion of human rights and reflects the unwavering determination to ensure justice and reconciliation in Rwanda after 13 years genocide .

Economy

Rwanda's economy is mainly characterized by its high dependence on agriculture (40% of GDP), annual growth of over 6%, a service development, low industrialization and a high population density (> 300 inhab. / km ). Inflation is about 4%, and if the GDP per capita is about 200 per year, GDP PPP year (weighted by purchasing power) per capita is 945 dollars. Its human development index is around 0.40 in 2002, that is to say, the average of neighboring countries.

In December 2004, one euro was worth 740 Rwandan francs. There are more changes in the black, the government has structured the profession, having imprisoned a few holdouts. An economist in an administration can reach 100 000 francs per month, or 135 euros. A lecturer at the university can reach about 175 000 francs per month, or 235 euros. The administration salaries are actually paid. In Kigali, a driver for one day asked 5,000 francs, or 6.76 euros. A taxi individually for about 5 km in Kigali back to 2000 francs, or 2.70 euros, a cut man haircut about 700 francs an hour of Internet in a cyber center 500 francs, a brick of a pint of UHT milk 450 francs, a 33 cl bottle of spring water 250 francs, a skewer of fried goat, about 600 francs (variable), one hour of parking in central Kigali 100 francs.

Rwanda has few mineral resources, such qu'tain, columbite-tantalite (niobium and tantalum ore, coltan often said), gold, tungsten and beryl. Apart from the question of running water is lacking in many, a major problem in Rwanda is that of energy. In 2005 less than 4% of Rwandans are connected to the electricity grid, and this network is far from meeting the needs of its customers who experience frequent and long breaks. Development opportunities for local energy production are subject to agreements with neighboring countries in a region marked by political instability beating down the possible projects.

The construction sector is doing well. Kigali past twenty years a few tens of thousands to nearly one million.

The government has a global perspective qualified as the "Vision 2020". The project director expects a growth of 7%, a private sector development, modernization of agriculture and wants to make Rwanda a regional service center for the African Great Lakes.

The Rwandan government has come closer to the initiators of NEPAD and shares their vision.

Since 2001, Rwanda has steadily reformed its trade laws and institutions. In 2008, Rwanda has introduced a new law on companies that simplifies the creation of businesses and strengthens protections for minority shareholders. Entrepreneurs can now start a business in two procedures and 3 days. Party transactions are subject to approval requirements and more stringent disclosure. The legal provisions governing the liability of company directors in the case of prejudicial transactions between interested parties have also been strengthened. Rwanda has improved its regulations to facilitate access to credit by adopting new laws. The new Law on Secured Transactions facilitates loans secured by allowing a wider range of assets to be used as bank collateral. The law also allows for extra-judicial agreement collateral securities pledged to creditors and gives them priority in the context of bankruptcy. The adoption of the new insolvency law in Rwanda has simplified the procedures for reorganization. The reforms also include measures to accelerate cross-border trade and property registration. Border delays have been reduced through longer opening hours, and requirements for documentation simpler. The reforms have removed the bottlenecks that existed at the property registry and the administration of tax revenues, reducing the time required to register property from 255 days .

This allowed for the first time a sub-Saharan Africa, Rwanda, arriving ahead in reforms from the World Bank report "Doing Business 2010" and make a giant leap (76 seats ) overall in climbing to ^the 67th place of 183 countries assessed, it was ranked ^143rd in the previous year .

GDP by sector : Agriculture: 42.6% industry: 22.2% services: 35.2%

Main export partners : China: 9.1% Thailand: 8.6% Germany 7.3% United States 4.5% Belgium: 4.1%

References

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