Burundi Rwanda
Burundi (06/05)
In 1991, Buyoya approved a constitution that provided for a president, multi-ethnic government, and a parliament. Burundi's first Hutu president, Melchior Ndadaye, of the Hutu-dominated FRODEBU Party, was elected in 1993. He was assassinated by factions of the Tutsi-dominated armed forces in October 1993. The country was then plunged into civil war, which killed tens of thousands of people and displaced hundreds of thousands by the time the FRODEBU government regained control and elected Cyprien Ntaryamira president in January 1994. Nonetheless, the security situation continued to deteriorate. In April 1994, President Ntayamira and Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana died in a plane crash. This act marked the beginning of the Rwandan genocide, while in Burundi, the death of Ntaryamira exacerbated the violence and unrest. Sylvestre Ntibantunganya was installed as president for a 4-year term on April 8, but the security situation further deteriorated. The influx of hundreds of thousand ... [Read More]
Rwanda
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A passport and evidence of yellow fever immunization are required. Visas are not required for American citizens entering Rwanda for less than 90 days. U.S. citizens planning on working in Rwanda should apply for a work permit at the Department of Immigration as soon as possible after arrival in Rwanda. Permits are valid for one- or two-year periods depending on the requestor's occupation. Detailed entry information may be obtained from the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda, 1714 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. 20009, telephone 202-232-2882, fax 202-232-4544. Overseas, inquiries may be made at the nearest Rwandan Embassy or Consulate. See our Foreign Entry Requirements brochure for more information on Rwanda and other countries. ... [Read More]
Rwanda (01/05)
The Rwandan economy is based on the largely rainfed agricultural production of small, semisubsistence, and increasingly fragmented farms. It has few natural resources to exploit and a small, uncompetitive industrial sector. While the production of coffee and tea is well-suited to the small farms, steep slopes, and cool climates of Rwanda, farm size continues to decrease, especially in view of government ownership of all land and the resettlement of displaced persons. Agribusiness accounts for 50% of Rwanda’s GDP and 70% of exports. Tea accounts for 60% of export earnings, followed by coffee and pyrethrum (whose extract is used in insect repellant). Mountain gorillas serve as a potentially important source of tourism revenue, but Rwanda’s tourism and hospitality sector requires further development. Rwanda is one of 20 member states of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and hoped to form a free trade area with Burundi in January 2004. Some 34% of Rwanda’s imports ... [Read More]
Travel to Rwanda and Sudan
Through his participation in the COMESA meeting in Kigali, Deputy Secretary Zoellick highlighted United States support for COMESA’s role in fostering regional political, economic, and security conditions. He discussed with COMESA and the leaders of its member states our work together to bring about a peaceful, unified Sudan and support the transition process in the Great Lakes. The Deputy Secretary met with Rwandan government officials and visited the Genocide Memorial in Kigali. COMESA member states are Angola, Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. COMESA nations’ total population is 385 million, and they have a combined gross domestic product of approximately $388 billion. ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
Road trips are possible to Eastern Zaire and Rwanda. Travel by car from Bujumbura north to Kigali takes 5 hours. From Kigali you can reach the Akagera Game Park in northeastern Rwanda. The park has abundant wildlife, and its flora has not been damaged by elephants and giraffes, as is sometimes the case in East Africa. This park is now closed due to civil war. Rwanda also has a highly scenic volcano region around Lake Kivu where mountain gorillas can be seen — US$120 for a l‑hour visit. The nearby towns offer good accommodations. ... [Read More]
Involuntary Repatriation of Rwandan Refugees
We call on the Governments of Rwanda and Burundi to halt immediately their efforts to forcibly return asylum seekers and to uphold their commitments under international law regarding the basic right to seek asylum and protection in neighboring states. Rwandan asylum seekers still in Burundi should be moved from the border to secure locations within Burundi where the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), together with the Burundian government, can conduct individual status determinations. No asylum seeker in either country who can demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution should be returned against his or her will. We also call on the Governments of Rwanda and Burundi to provide UNHCR and its partner organizations with access to refugees and returnees in both countries so that protection and assistance may be provided to those in need. ... [Read More]
Countries and Other Areas
Bureau of African AffairsCountries and Other Areas ... [Read More]
2001
111111-- Romania -- Rwanda ... 111111-- Romania - - Rwanda ... [Read More]
U.S. Department of State Websites of U.S. Embassies and Consulates
• Rwanda: Kigali ... [Read More]
Rwanda
There were no reports of any action taken against local defense unit members responsible for killing civilians in 2000. Unlike in the previous year, there were no reports that rebel forces killed civilians in the country. b. Disappearance Unlike in the previous year, there were no reports of politically motivated disappearances within the country; however, there were numerous credible reports that RDF forces in the DRC seized and transferred to the country numerous Banyamulenge prisoners following the revolt of Banyamulenge Commander Masunzu against the RDF in late January. Several hundred RCD/Goma soldiers in the DRC suspected of sympathizing with the revolt reportedly were disarmed and sent to the country in May for forced "retraining." There was no further information on the soldiers; many suspected they were killed or remained in secret detention in military camps or prisons. T ... [Read More]
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