This country profile was published in November 2008 in our annual 'Africa in 2009' issue. The next edition, 'Africa in 2010' will be on sale 23 November 2009.

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The next stage of Rwanda’s post-genocide political transformation comes against the backdrop of legislative elections in September 2008, after which the National Assembly was able to boast it has more women (55% of its MPs) than any parliament in the world. The government’s critics, however, say that the opposition was excluded and that only parties allied to the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) were allowed to present candidates. The RPF certainly kept its dominance, winning 42 of the 53 elected seats, and there seems little likelihood of any threat to a predictable re-election of President Paul Kagame in 2010.


Meanwhile, the judicial consequences of the genocide will continue to rumble on. The government is hoping to bring an end to the genocide-related gacaca tribunals in the coming months following an increase in tensions after some alleged perpetrators of ‘first category’ crimes (planning and organising the 1994 genocide) appeared before these tribunals. A sentence is likely to be delivered soon by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda on the presumed mastermind of the genocide, Colonel Théoneste Bagosora, whose trial ended in 2007. A further 29 accused remain on trial or await a verdict, while eight have not yet appeared and 13 are still at large.


Another lingering consequence is that the arrest warrants issued in 2006 and 2008 by French and Spanish judges against the current Rwandan leadership (for their alleged involvement in the death of former President Juvénal Habyarimana on 6 April 1994) could hinder their travel outside Africa. Meanwhile the accusations against French political figures made by a Rwandan commission of enquiry in August 2008 are likely to prolong the sharp break in relations between the two countries after a French judge made specific accusations against President Kagame.


These political and diplomatic difficulties will not hurt the country’s ongoing economic recovery, whereby real GDP growth is expected to reach 6-7% in both 2008 and 2009, led by good performances in services, agriculture and industry. Coffee production reached at least 25,000 tonnes in 2008, fetching an anticipated $54m, and the quality has been enhanced by investment in washing facilities. Tea exports have also done well, with a forecast of earnings of $39m for 2008, helped by improved growing methods and the expansion of drying facilities. Six rehabilitated tea factories are due for privatisation in 2009.


The authorities hope for significant progress in the diversification of the economy in the coming years and for transformation into a hub for communications and services. The planned projects include an international airport in Bugesera region and a railway link with Tanzania. The most rapid progress is likely to be in electric power generation, where the existing hydro-electric capacity has been undercut by low rainfall. Two pilot generators using methane gas from Lake Kivu should be operational in early 2009 (while negotiations take place between the government and ContourGlobal of the US on a 100 MW methane-powered station) and India’s Exim Bank has agreed to finance a new dam on the Nyabarongo River.


Belgian firms have been taking close interest in the opportunities presented by Rwanda’s entry into the East African Community, especially in the fields of construction, ICT and tourism. To improve the business climate, there are plans to open the Rwandan Commercial and Registry Services soon.