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WEB PAGE

Shasta Q. Wilson

 

 

 

 

RWANDA

http://www.gov.rw/

 

This web page is designed for high school students who are researching the geographic perspective of African countries which in the recent years have undergone civil wars and/or genocide.

 

Map of  Rwanda

click here to view images

 The Republic of Rwanda, is a small country in east-central Africa, with a population of approximately 8 million. It is bordered by Uganda, Burundi, Congo and Tanzania. Rwanda has a fertile and hilly terrain, which gives it the nick-name "Land of a Thousand Hills". The country is best known to the world for the 1994 Rwandan genocide that resulted in the deaths of up to one million people. Because of its high dependence on inadequate agriculture, high, yet steadily increasing population, decreasing soil fertility and uncertain climate, make Rwanda a country where severe malnutrition is widespread and poverty ever-present.

              

HISTORY

 

As early as the 15th century there were three distinct ethnic groups of people dwelling in Rwanda, the Hutu, the Tutsi, and the Twa. The Tutsi, from the north, conquered the area, and became the ruling power, and forced the Hutu into a strictly enforced feudal type system. The Twa, the smallest minority group, were  the middle men and often exploited. John Speke became the first European to visit Rwanda, and in 1895 the Rwandans accepted German rule. In 1899 Rwanda became a German colony. After the defeat of the Germans during WWI, in 1919 Rwanda became territory of the League of Nations under the administration of Belgium. The Germans and the Belgians governed Rwanda through a system of indirect rule. During this colonial era, a cash crop economy was introduced in Rwanda, and this was administered through harsh methods that separated the Kings from the rest of the population. After World War II Rwanda became a UN trust territory  and On July 1st, 1962 Rwanda was granted formal political independence by Belgium; but due to the fleeing and assassination of rulers, the Hutu began to gain control of the land.

 

GENOCIDE

 

In 1990, the Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) invaded Rwanda from Uganda. During the course of the fighting, Hutu, began secretly training young men into informal armed bands called Interahamwe ("coming together"). Government officials also created and aired a radio station that began anti-Tutsi indoctrination. The Hutu military government began to fight against the Tutsis, whom they claimed were trying to re-enslave the Hutus. The United Nations sent a peacekeeping force named the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR), under the leadership of Canadian Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire, which was  under- funded and under-staffed. During the "war", the RPF was blamed for the bombing of Kigali, which in reality these attacks were actually carried out by the Hutu army as part of a plan to create a reason for a political crackdown and ethnic violence. On April 6, 1994, President Habyarimana of Rwanda was assassinated. It remains unclear who was responsible for the assassination. Many believe the  most credible source was Hutu nationalists who were in fear of losing power, although the blame was appointed to Tutsi rebels. Over the next three months, the Hutu military and militia groups killed between 500,000 and 1,000,000 Tutsis and Hutu moderates in the Rwandan Genocide.

On July 4, 1994, the war ended as the RPF entered the capital Kigali. In the result, over 2 million Hutus fled the country after the war, fearing Tutsi revenge. Many have returned, although some Hutus remained in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Rwanda is still  struggling today to heal and rebuild, but is showing signs of development. In 2004, a ceremony was held in Kigali at the Gisozi Memorial to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the genocide, and the country observes a national day of mourning each year on April 7. The country now plays host to many international travelers and is favored as a safe place for tourists.

 

Flag of Rwanda

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GOVERNMENT

 

Official Name: The Republic of Rwanda

There are Seven political parties represented in the Government of National Unity of the Republic of Rwanda. They are: Front Patriotique Rwandais (FPR), Parti Social Démocrate (PSD), Parti Libéral (PL), Parti Démocrate Centriste (PDC) Parti Démocratique Idéal (PDI), Parti Socialiste Rwandans (PSR) and Union Démocratique du Peuple Rwandais (UDPR). All regions, ethnic groups, religions, and most importantly women are represented in the Government of National Unity. The executive arm of government is headed by the President. The President is the Head of State and the cabinet; which is  is the body of ministers responsible for the functioning of national affairs. Ministers, who head governmental departments or ministries are appointed by the President. 

 

GEOGRAPHY

 

Land Area: 26,340 square Kilometers.
Population: 8 million.

Rainfall: Rainy seasons: March - May and October - November (Average of 110-200 mm. per month).
Average Temperature: 24.6 - 27.6ºc. Hottest months: August, September.
Altitude: Ranges from 1000-4500m above sea level.
Main water bodies: Lake Kivu, Lake Muhazi, Lake Ihema, Lake Bulera, Lake Ruhondo, Lake Mugesera.

Vegetation: ranges from dense equatorial forest in the north-west of the country to tropical savannah in the east.
Main National Parks/Animal Reserves: Akagera and Virunga Volcanoes National Parks.
Highest point: Karisimbi volcano (4,507m)

Borders: Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south and Democratic Republic of Congo to the west.

 

THE FOUR TRADITIONS OF GEOGRAPHY

 

The four traditions of geography were initiated by geographer William D. Pattison at the annual convention of the National Council for Geographic Education, Columbus, Ohio, November 29, 1963. His four traditions attempted to define the discipline:

1. Spatial Tradition (also called Locational Tradition) which in its focus is mapping, spatial analysis, areal distribution, boundaries, movement and transportation, and geographic positioning systems.

2. Area Studies Tradition (also called Regional Tradition) which in its focus is description of regions or areas, international trends and relationships, world regional geography, and how regions are different from one another.

3. Human-land Tradition which in its focus is human impact on nature, impact of nature on humans, natural hazards, and cultural, political, and population geography.

4. Earth Science Tradition which in its focus is physical geography, the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere, and the study of the earth as the home to humans.

(in relation to Rwanda)

1. Rwanda is located in Central Africa east of Democratic Republic of the Congo. Because of its location, Rwanda experiences a temperate climate with  two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January). There are 9 airports, 12,00 km of highways, and 0 km of waterways in Rwanda, the most important water outlets are ports and harbors. 

2. Rwanda, is a small landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of east-central Africa, with a population of approximately 8 million. It is bordered by Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania. Its fertile and hilly terrain, which gives it the title "Land of a Thousand Hills". The terrain is mountainous and well irrigated by numerous rivers and lakes, supporting wild life. The lowlands have been eroded and their natural vegetation is disappearing as a result of excessive grazing and heavy farming; the soils are fairly nutrient and fertile in comparison with soils found in many African regions.

3. Rwanda's population is roughly at 8.3 million is set to double to 16 million by 2020. Rwanda's population density is the highest in Africa. In comparison to social indicators of other sub-Saharan countries, Rwanda has the highest level of poverty – 70% live below the poverty line, in relation to 53% prior to the 1994 genocide.  Rwanda experiences periodic droughts and activity from the volcanic Virunga Mountains which are in the northwest along the border. Due to the effects of AIDS, some statistics of Rwanda result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex.

4. Rwanda's physical environment is mostly grassy uplands, hills and mountains with altitude declining from west to east. It's lowest point is the  Rusizi River, 950 m and highest point,  Volcan Karisimbi, 4,519 m.

 

PEOPLE OF RWANDA

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Population: 8,154,933

Age structure:

0-14 years: 44% (male 1,807,695; female 1,793,590)
15-64 years: 53% (male 2,148,477; female 2,179,119)
65 years and over: 3% (male 92,490; female 133,562)

Population growth rate: 2.43% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 38.97 births/1,000 population

Death rate: 19.53 deaths/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate: 112.86 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 41.31 years
male: 40.84 years
female: 41.8 years

Total fertility rate: 5.8 children born/woman

Nationality: Rwandan

Ethnic groups: Hutu 80%, Tutsi 19%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1%

Religions: Roman Catholic 65%, Protestant 9%,Muslim 1%, indigenous beliefs and other 25%

Languages: Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centers

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60.5%
male: 69.8%
female: 51.6%