RWANDA – GENERAL INFORMATION
R
W A N D A
GENERAL INFORMATION
12/10/2024
GEOGRAPHY
Credit: Central Intelligence
Agency
HISTORY
For
centuries, the Hutu, Tutsi and Twa of Rwanda shared the same culture, language
and religion. In 1916, Belgium took control of Rwanda from Germany and
installed a rigid colonial system of racial classification and exploitation.
By
elevating the Tutsi over the Hutu, the Belgians created deep resentment among
the Hutu majority. In 1959, control of Rwanda went to the Hutu majority.
Following independence came decades of institutionalized anti-Tutsi segregation
and massacre. Hundreds of thousands of Tutsis and moderate Hutus were forced
into exile. In 1988, some of these refugees formed a rebel movement called the
Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) to reclaim their homeland. A deadly cycle of war
and massacre continued until 1993, when the United Nations negotiated a
power-sharing agreement between the two sides.
To protect their power, hard-line Hutu extremists resisted the implementation
of the agreements and planned one of the most terrifying genocides in history.
In 1994 in Rwanda, a landlocked country slightly smaller than Massachusetts, at
least 800,000 members of the Tutsi ethnic minority and moderate Hutu
sympathizers were systematically murdered in 100 days. The killing was quickly
implemented throughout the country at a rate of approximately 8,000 people per
day. Most of the victims were killed in their villages and towns, often by
their neighbors. The genocide ended when the RPF, led by Paul Kagame, brought
the country under their control and overthrew the Hutu regime. Every Rwandan
was deeply touched by the genocide; no one was exempt.
THE PEOPLE
SOCIAL CONVENTIONS
The
traditional way of life is based on agriculture and cattle. The Rwandans settle
in the fertile areas, but they do not form villages, each family being
surrounded by its own fields. Most of the population belongs to the Hutu tribe. There’s a significant Tutsi minority (15%) and a smaller
minority of Twa, a mixed race of
traditional potters and hunters and said to be the country’s first inhabitants.
Normal social courtesies apply.
LANGUAGES
The
official languages are Kinyarwanda, French and English. Kiswahili is used for
trade and commerce.
GOVERNMENT
Republic
since 1962. Gained independence from
The
architects of the 1994 genocide have been (and still are being) tried before a
UN-run tribunal based in
TIME
ZONE
Standard
Time Zone: GMT +2. No daylight-saving time.
ELECTRICITY
220
volts AC, 50Hz.
CLIMATE
Despite
its proximity to the Equator, the high altitude cools the climate in Rwanda. It
is warm throughout most of the country, but cooler in the mountains. There are
two rainy seasons: mid-January to April, and mid-October to mid-December.
Clothes
to Wear:
-
Warm
clothes including a fleece or light wool sweater.
-
Padded
sleeveless waistcoat with deep pockets for valuables, film, papers, etc.
-
Lightweight
wool socks.
-
Long-sleeved
shirt.
-
Strong
waterproof walking boots, gaiters.
-
Sturdy
trousers.
-
Sunglasses
& high factor sun screen.
-
A
sun hat with a small brim.
-
Breathable
lightweight rain poncho/parka & rain hat.
-
Small
backpack to carry water.
-
Gloves
recommended for those with sensitive skin or allergy to nettles.
LOGISTICAL
Entry
& Exit Requirements:
A
valid passport is required not to expire six month or less at the time of
departure from Rwanda. US visitors require a visa when entering Rwanda. Detailed
entry information may be obtained from Rwanda’s Directorate of Immigration.
https://www.migration.gov.rw/
Or
visit
/ contact the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda for the most current
visa information. In
Embassy
Locations:
2657
Avenue de la Gendarmerie
Tel:
[250] (252) 596-400
Fax:
[250] (252) 596-591
http://rwanda.usembassy.gov/
Embassy of
1534 Akagera Street
Kigali, Rwanda
Tel:
(+250) (252) 573-210
Fax: (+250) (252) 572-719
http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/kenya/offices-bureaux/contact-rwanda-contactez.aspx?lang=eng
HEALTH
Evidence of yellow fever immunization is
required for those 9 months of age and older. Yellow fever can cause serious medical problems,
but the vaccine is very effective in preventing the disease. There are periodic
outbreaks of meningitis in
Malaria is endemic to
Information
on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water
precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) hotline for
international travelers at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) or via the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.
For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the
infectious diseases section of the World Health Organization (WHO)
website at http://www.who.int/topics/infectious_ diseases/en/.The
WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers,
including detailed country-specific health information.
Banks
& Currency:
Rwanda
Franc (RWF) = 100 centimes. Notes are
in dominations of RWF 5,000, 1,000, 500, and 100. Coins are in dominations of
50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 centimes.
Credit
cards are accepted at only a few hotels in Kigali.
Banking
hours: Monday to Friday
USD
Cash preferred for personal expenses.
Bring clean bank notes in small denominations issued after 2009.
Communication:
Telephone
Country code: 250. There are no area codes. There is International Direct Dialing,
but this may be subject to occasional disruptions.
Cell
Phones: Roaming agreements exist. Coverage in some areas can be unreliable.
Cell
Phone Usage:
Please
contact your cell phone provider to determine whether your contract includes
coverage in the country you are visiting. Depending on your contract you may
have to add international services and/or country specific services.
ENTERTAINMENT
Food & Drink:
Only
eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and
mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetable should be cooked and fruit
peeled. Rwandan food is quite simple, with beans, bananas, sweet
potatoes, potatoes, and sorghum being the most common foods. Those who can
afford to do so also eat meat, primarily beef, goat, and chicken. Rwandans
traditionally eat food in public settings only for ceremonial purposes, but
otherwise eat only in the home. In recent years, the taboo on eating in public
has diminished significantly, and restaurants have appeared in most urban
areas. While the system of clans has diminished sharply in importance in
Rwanda, most Rwandans will still not eat the totemic animals associated with
their clans.
Water used for drinking, brushing
teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilized.
Bottled water is highly recommended. Powdered or tinned milk is available and
is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy
products that are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Dairy products
are widely consumed, particularly a traditional drink of curdled milk. Sorghum
and banana beers are common as well.
Nightlife:
There are a few cinemas in Kigali.
The Rwanda National Ballet is famous for its traditional dancing and singing,
and can be seen either at national ceremonies or sometimes on request in the
villages. There are now several nightclubs, with African, Congolese and Western
music; there are also some live music bars with food and dancing available. The
French Cultural Center runs a variety of activities.
Shopping:
Special purchases include woven
baskets with pointed lids, native clay statuettes, masks and charms. Do not buy
souvenir gorilla skulls or hands; if they are offered, report the trader to the
police. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 08:30 am-1pm and 2pm-05:30 pm, Sat 08:30
am-12:30pm.
BAGGAGE
Baggage
rules for international and domestic air travel have changed much in recent
years, differ from carrier to carrier and these days even may cover your
on-board bags. Checking luggage may cost a separate fee or may be free
depending on your personal status with the carrier. We therefore encourage you
to read your ticket’s small print and/or contact your carrier for exact rules.
TIPPING
Tipping is left to your discretion. For drivers/guides, we
recommend the equivalent of $10 US dollars per day per person. At the hotel, 1
US dollar per piece of luggage for a porter.
LAUNDRY
Laundry
service is available at most hotels in the main centers. Generally, you should allow about 24-hours
before the item is returned to you, however, some have an emergency service
available at an extra charge.
PHOTOS & VIDEOS
In some countries you must refrain from photographing sites such as Military bases and industrial installations. Also be aware of cultural sensitivities when taking pictures of or near churches and other religious sites. It is always courteous to ask for permission before taking photographs of people.
USE
OF DRONES
The
use of drones is being legislated by many countries. In some cases drones are
already forbidden and their unauthorized use may carry severe penalties. If you
plan to travel with a drone, please contact the embassy or consulate of the
country you wish to visit.