In 2002, Rwanda was a small country located in Central Africa. It was bordered by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south and Congo to the west. The population of Rwanda in 2002 was around 8 million people and Kinyarwanda was the official language. According to computerannals, the capital city of Kigali was home to many government buildings, as well as popular tourist attractions such as Akagera National Park, Volcano National Park and Nyungwe Forest National Park.
The economy of Rwanda in 2002 was largely based on services, industry and agriculture. Services accounted for around 50% of GDP, with activities such as banking, finance and insurance being particularly important. Industry accounted for around 30% of GDP; it included manufacturing activities such as textiles, chemicals and food processing. Agriculture played an important role; it accounted for around 20% of GDP and included crops such as coffee, tea and bananas. Tourism had begun to develop as well; visitors were drawn to Rwanda’s stunning landscapes, vibrant culture and unique architecture.
Yearbook 2002
Rwanda. At the UN tribunal in Arusha, the trial of some of the supreme culprits for the 1994 genocide, including Colonel Théoneste Bagosora, was appointed as the leading organizer of the massacre of 800,000 people.
According to Countryaah website, national day of Rwanda is every July 1. Former Minister of Information Eliezer Niyitegeka, who is responsible for the state media’s campaign against Tutsis, was also brought to justice. The Catholic priest Athanase Seromba, who for five years has remained hidden there with the help of the church, was handed out from Italy. He was accused of letting excavators demolish a church in Nyange, where a few thousand Tutsis sought protection. In August, the commander of the genocide regime Augustin Bizimungu was arrested in Angola. Like Seromba, he was sent to the Arusha court.
The UN tribunal was strengthened by an additional 18 judges. The 16 ordinary judges still had not even reached ten trials and had 60 people awaiting trial. In order to carry out the trials until 2008, the UN gave courts in other countries the right to try and convict Rwandans arrested there, provided that the laws of these countries allow the trial of genocide and crimes against humanity wherever the crimes have been committed. A condition is also that the UN Court always has the last word.
In Rwanda, the newly formed so-called gacaca courts, a revived traditional legal system, began the process of quickly investigating the 115,000 people who have been awaiting trial since 1994.
In the fall, Rwanda took home its 20,000 soldiers from Congo-Kinshasa. They had officially been sent there to prevent the hutumilies behind the genocide from re-attacking Rwanda.
In August, a census was conducted, the first in Rwanda’s history where ethnic belonging was not recorded.
A December 2015 referendum voted 98.3% to change the constitution that allowed President Kagame to run for a third term in 2017. However, the president had not announced whether he wanted to stand. The EU and the US criticized the vote.
The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) completed its work by the end of 2015. Prior to that, a number of convictions of war criminals had been handed down. But there were also those who went free. In October, a French court indicted the genocide accused Wenceslas Munyeshyaka and provided a pretext for missing evidence. Munyeshyaka was a priest in the capital of Kigali in 1994 and is accused of participating in murder and rape during the genocide, and of helping the Interahamwe militia identify Tutsis who were subsequently raped and killed.
By the end of 2015, 70,000 refugees from Burundi were living in Rwanda. They had fled the crisis in the neighboring country.
The Democratic Green Party declared in March 2016 that it would not stand for a candidate for the 2017 presidential election unless a series of political and electoral reforms were implemented. In September, authorities rejected those claims. The party then chose to put its chairman, Dr Frank Habineza, as presidential candidate anyway.
Also in March, the UN Human Rights Council published the result of its periodic review (UPR) of the situation in Rwanda. The country accepted the Council’s recommendations on freedom of thought and expression, and also promised to improve its policy towards human rights activists. In June, civil society authorities and donors published a roadmap for implementing the recommendations.
Rwanda Country Overview
Visas
Finnish citizens need a visa to Rwanda. A Rwandan single entry visa is available on arrival and costs USD 50 per person.
Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya have an East Africa Tourist Visa valid for 90 days (multiple entries in each destination). For the visa, a letter of invitation from our local partner will be sent to the departures. The letter must be presented upon arrival in the country together with a valid travel document. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the end of the trip. The visa costs 100 usd and is paid in cash on arrival in the country. Note! Changes in visa policies and fees are possible without prior notice.
- According to ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG, RWA stands for Rwanda.
Insurance
Everyone participating in the trip must have a valid travel insurance that covers medical expenses in the event of illness or other similar need. Please check the validity of your own insurance and the terms and conditions of the insurance cancellation cover.
Please take into account the possible special nature of your trip and check the coverage of the insurance in that respect as well. In many locations, the insurance must also be valid when moving at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters, in which case it also covers mountain sickness.
Many hiking or diving trips require more extensive insurance, which covers, for example, diving or moving on a glacier. Please check the contents of your insurance with your insurance company.
Vaccinations and health
Check that your basic vaccinations according to the national vaccination program are valid. Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory when traveling to Rwanda. In addition, hepatitis A and B vaccination is recommended. Rwanda has malaria throughout the country, so antimalarial medication is recommended. Always check the vaccination requirements at the health center or the Vaccination Advice of the Tourist Clinic www.rokote.fi.
Currency The
Rwandan currency is the Rwandan Franc (RWF). In some places, the United States dollar (USD) is also suitable as a means of payment.
Tips A
tip is given for good service. Restaurant staff may be advised to include approximately 10% of the final invoice unless a service charge is included in the invoice price. Hotels often have a tip box on display, where hotel staff can leave a tip to share. The staff can also be thanked for the meritorious service in the form of a tip with a direct, personally given tip. It is recommended to give the guide at the end of the trip about 10 – 15 USD / day / person when there are 1 – 3 people on the trip. It is recommended to give the tip of the Gorilla Patio Guide a tip of about 10 – 15 USD / person / patch.
Time difference
In winter, Rwanda has the same time as Finland. The time difference in summer is -1 hour.
Electrical current
The electrical current in Uganda is 230 V. Finnish-type plugs suitable for sockets.
Mobile phones
Please check the coverage and prices of your mobile phone with your operator. Rwanda’s area code is +250.
Climate
Located in the equatorial region, Rwanda has a warm and tropical climate all year round. The heavier rainy season usually extends from about March to May. Gorilla trekking is still not impossible, but hikes at drier times are preferable. During the rainy season, the fruit ripens, and this helps create good conditions for chimpanzee trekking trips in Nyungwe, southern Rwanda, as chimpanzees land lower in the trees to eat, making them more likely to be seen in place and in larger groups. The driest weather conditions in Rwanda are roughly from mid-May to mid-October and from December to February. The short rains date back to the end of the year, roughly October-November. Wet ground can make hiking in the jungle more challenging, but for rainforest areas, it is important to note that rainfall occurs throughout the year. The time of short rains is usually a rewarding time of birdwatching, and the lush surroundings create a beautiful setting for photography.
Travel
seasons The time of the dry season in the summer months of Finland, the holiday season in Central and Southern Europe, and the time of Christmas and New Year are the highest travel seasons. The transition periods between rainier seasons and drier seasons are usually quieter in terms of tourism, in which case prices may be lower in some destinations than during the high season.
Maastapoistumismaksu
Rwanda exit not have to pay maastapoistumismaksua.
