$Unique_ID{bob00476} $Pretitle{} $Title{Rwanda Front Matter} $Subtitle{} $Author{The Director Foreign Area Studies} $Affiliation{HQ, Department of the Army} $Subject{percent economic government united main rwanda small area belgium central} $Date{1990} $Log{} Title: Rwanda Book: Area Handbook for Rwanda Author: The Director Foreign Area Studies Affiliation: HQ, Department of the Army Date: 1990 Front Matter Foreword This volume is one of a series of handbooks prepared by Foreign Area Studies (FAS) of The American University, designed to be useful to military and other personnel who need a convenient compilation of basic facts about the social, economic, political, and military institutions and practices of various countries. The emphasis is on objective description of the nation's present society and the kinds of possible or probable changes that might be expected in the future. The handbook seeks to present as full and as balanced an integrated exposition as limitations on space and research time permit. It was compiled from information available in openly published material. Extensive bibliographies are provided to permit recourse to other published sources for more detailed information. There has been no attempt to express any specific point of view or to make policy recommendations. The contents of the handbook represent the work of the authors and FAS and do not represent the official view of the United States Government. An effort has been made to make the handbook as comprehensive as possible. It can be expected, however, that the material, interpretations, and conclusions are subject to modification in the light of new information and developments. Such corrections, additions, and suggestions for factual, interpretive, or other change as readers may have will be welcomed for use in future revisions. Comments may be addressed to- The Director Foreign Area Studies 5010 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20016 Preface Rwanda, a small, landlocked country in east-central Africa that gained independence from Belgium in 1962, is engaged in the process of nation building and economic development. As of early 1969, the Government, under the leadership of President Gregoire Kayibanda and the only political party, was endeavoring to promote social and political unity and economic development. This book is an attempt to provide in a compact, convenient, balanced, and objective form an integrated exposition and analysis of the dominant social, political, and economic aspects of the society. It is designed to give readers an understanding of the dynamics of the component elements of the society and an insight into the ideas and feelings of its people. Sources of information used included scholarly studies, official reports and publications, reports by missionary organizations, and current newspapers and periodicals. The economic data available were subject to varying degrees of error, and most available ethnographic studies were based on field work completed before the social and political revolution that occurred immediately before independence. The spelling of proper names conforms to the current usage in the country. Prefixes, which are used in Bantu languages to indicate categories-e.g., Ba for people, Mu for man-have not been used. The ethnic groups are referred to simply as Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa, and no indication of the plural is made. Throughout the book, Rwanda as opposed to the preindependence spelling of Ruanda is used. Place names are given as established by the United States Board on Geographic Names as of November 1964. A brief glossary of acronyms, economic terms, and foreign words is included for the convenience of the reader. Country Summary 1. COUNTRY: Republic of Rwanda. 2. GOVERNMENT: Secured independence from Belgium on July 1, 1962. Constitution of November 24, 1962 provides for a unitary republic with executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. 3. POPULATION: Approximately 3.6 million in early 1969 with estimated growth rate of 3 percent per annum. Hutu ethnic group constitutes about 88 percent; Tutsi about 11 percent; Twa less than 1 percent. Europeans and Asians about .02 percent. 4. SIZE: Area 10,186 square miles. 5. TOPOGRAPHY: Mostly hilly but with some swamps and extensive mountainous areas. Most of land at least 3,000 feet above sea level; average altitude of densely populated central plateau region 4,700 feet and average for country 5,200 feet. 6. LANGUAGES: Kinyarwanda, a Bantu language spoken by all Rwandans, and French the official languages. Limited commercial use of Swahili, an East African trade language. Very limited English. 7. RELIGION: Over 40 percent Christian, mostly Roman Catholic. Remainder observe traditional animist religions. The few Asians are Hindus or Muslims. 8. EDUCATION: Rapidly expanding school system in 1967-68 had about 372,000 students in 6-grade primary system; about 8,800 in secondary system. National University of Rwanda had about 160 students and National Pedagogical Institute about 70. There is instruction in French from the 4th primary grade. 9. HEALTH: Principal diseases: kwashiorkor; bronchial and lobar pneumonia; infectious hepatitis; bacillic and amoebic dysentery; malaria, and tuberculosis, many of which are endemic. Approximately one doctor per 70,000 persons. 10. CLIMATE: Pleasant tropical highland climate, with daily temperature range as much as 25 degrees. Two wet, and two relatively dry seasons. Kigali, the capital and largest city, is located on central plateau with average temperature of 66 degrees and 40 inches rain. 11. JUSTICE: Formal legal structure headed by Supreme Court. Despite expanding body of written law, overwhelming majority of civil and criminal cases resolved in customary courts pursuant to customary law. 12. ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS: Ten administrative divisions (prefectures) and 141 sub-divisions (communes). 13. ECONOMY: Predominantly subsistence agriculture, supplemented by a small amount of cash-crop production for export of coffee, tea, and pyrethrum. Major food crops bananas, sweet potatoes, cassava, sorghum, and legumes. Food-crop production generally failed to keep pace with expansion in population. Industry: Extremely small manufacturing sector, limited to processing of agricultural produce. Construction industry small but growing. Main mineral production tin ore. Labor Force: About 90 percent of population engaged in subsistence agriculture. In 1966 about 84,000 persons employed temporarily or permanently for wages. Many skilled positions filled by foreigners. 14. FOREIGN ECONOMIC RELATIONS: Exports: In 1967 coffee accounted for 56 percent of export earnings and tin ore for 30 percent. Small but increasing amounts of tea and pyrethrum also exported. About 90 percent of coffee exports sold to United States; Belgium main purchaser of tin ore. Imports: Heavily dependent on imports. In 1967 textiles and semifinished products each accounted for one-quarter of total value of imports. Belgium main supplier, followed by Uganda and Japan. Aid Agreements: Belgium main source of project aid and technical assistance. European Economic Community second largest donor. Aid also received from United Nations, United States, Republic of China, Switzerland, Canada, and Federal Republic of Germany. 15. FINANCE: Currency: Rwandan franc, valued at approximately U.S.$0.01. Currency devalued from 50 to 100 Rwandan francs per United States dollar in April 1966. Banking: Central bank, National Bank of Rwanda, issues currency and acts as banker to Government and to 2 commercial banks. Has considerable influence in economy. Public Finance: Large deficit, financed mainly by advances from central bank. Defense and education together absorb one-half of current expenditures. Import, export, and excise taxes main sources of Government current receipts. Virtually no public savings. 16. COMMUNICATIONS: Radio: Government owned and operated. One 50 kw transmitter, an estimated 20,000 receivers. No television. Very small telephone system. Newspapers: 3 monthly, low circulation. 17. ROADS: 3,090 route miles, about 1,360 of which central Government has responsibility for maintenance. Few bridges; many routes washed out in rainy seasons. 18. AIRFIELDS: Main airport at Kigali capable of receiving 4-engine jet aircraft; 10 other, smaller airfields. 19. PRINCIPAL AIRLINES: Served by Sabena, Air Congo and East African Airways. 20. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS: United Nations; Organization of African Unity, and UAM (African and Malagasy Union). Associate members of European Economic Community. 21. SECURITY FORCES: National Guard: over 2,500, mainly infantry. Police: Over 1,000 men.