NS4301 Political Economy of Africa Rwanda Trip Report
Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwandan Facts Official Name: Republic of Rwanda Capital: Kigali President: Paul Kagame (2000) Government: Republic Currency: Rwandan Franc (RWF) Language(s): English, French, Kinyarwanda Religion: Catholic (57%); Protestant (26%); Adventist (11%) Population: 12.6M (CAO Aug 2015) Current Rwandan gov’t consists of a multi-party democracy, but may as well be a dictatorship with the Rwandan Patriotic Front in charge.
History 1860: Rwabugira first known king 1894: Count von Götzen first European to reach Rwanda Germans annex modern-day Rwanda & Burundi w/ Tanzania for Kaiser Wilhelm; territory called Ruanda-Urundi (RU) 1914: Germany invades Belgium under Schlieffen Plan 1916: Belgians retaliate by taking RU 1924: League of Nations mandates RU to Belgians Control given to Tutsi aristocracy 1933: Racial ID cards 1957: Hutu Manifesto published -1933: 85% Hutu; 14% Tutsi; 1% Pygmie
History (con’t) 1962: Rwanda gains independence Gregoire Kayibanda (Party for Hutu Emancipation) elected Pres. 1973: Juvénal Habyarimana takes over as Pres -Develops policy that Tutsi refugees no longer welcomed in 1986 1987: RPF formed in Uganda; commitment to overthrow Habyarimana 1990: In Oct, RPF crosses border to overthrow gov’t; leads to Rwandan civil war 1993: In Aug, Arusha Accords signed Refugees allowed to come back across the border 1994: 06 Apr shootdown of plane carrying Habyarimana & Pres of Burundi -Kayibanda refers to Tutsis as cockroaches (inyenzi) -Gen Romeo Dallaire receives word from an informant of the pending genocide…he was in charge of UNAMIR
Rwandan Genocide
Rwandan Genocide
Rwandan Genocide
Rwandan Genocide
Rwandan Genocide RPF defeats guerillas and take control of Kigali in July ‘94 Millions of Rwandan refugees in DRC, Tanzania & Burundi Sporadic violence throughout 1990s Stop division among ethnic lines & unite as Rwandans
Post-Genocide Econ Recovery Vision 2020 Goal: Transform Rwanda’s agriculture-based economy into a middle class income country ($900 per capita annually from $290) based on information technology; reduction of poverty rate to 30% and increase life expectancy to 55 Vision 2020 Pillars Good governance and a capable state Human resource development and a knowledge-based economy A private sector-led economy Infrastructure development Productive and Market Oriented Agriculture Regional and International Economic Integration
Human Resource Development Literacy Rate: 70.5% Male: 73% Female: 68% Health Infant Mortality Rate: 5.8% Life expectancy: 60 years Doctors: .06 per 1000 people (CAO 2010) Economic Well-Being 45% of population lives below poverty line Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Rwanda is ranked first among 48 African countries in achieving MDGs -Infant Mortality Rate -In Africa, ranked 34 out of 54 (Mali 104/1000; Botswana 9/1000; tied with CIV…in same neighborhood with other Central African nations) Globally, Rwanda is the 23rd worst…AFG is worst (117/1000); Monaco is the best (1.8/1000); USA is 6/1000.
Human Resource Development
Rwanda GDP per capita Source: World Bank
Annual GDP Growth (%) Source: World Bank
Internet Users (per 100 people)
Infrastructure Development Rwandans can access running water w/in 1 km of their home Foreign involvement
Infrastructure Development
Infrastructure Development
Infrastructure Development
Potential Threats to Stability Burundi & DRC Socio/Political Environment Aid Removal 40% of budget based on foreign-aid assistance Rwandan support of M23 rebels & human rights abuses in DRC Land disputes 77% of Rwandans are subsistence farmers Returning refugees & land ownership (90% of court cases) -Mention support of M23 rebels in DRC and US removal of aid
Questions