Rwanda Country Report
Rwanda has become one of Africa’s most peaceful countries, achieving strong economic growth over the past decade while avoiding new ethnic conflicts between the Hutu majority and the Tutsi minority. Despite the regime’s systematic crackdown on dissent, President Paul Kagame continues to garner popular support for restoring order to Rwanda after the 1994 genocide that devastated the country. Concerns remain about rebel activity, mainly in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where large numbers of refugees have fled since the civil war. Levels of corruption and crime are relatively low by regional standards, although there are concerns about petty crime. Armed robberies do happen, but they are rare. The main threats to foreign tourists are road safety, health hazards, and vulnerability of infrastructure.
Last updated: April 12, 2022
Security
Although the risk of conflict in Rwanda is limited, the border region with the Democratic Republic of Congo is prone to ethnic conflict spillovers and local escalation of cross-border tensions. A small-scale terrorist threat exists in the country, with occasional grenade attacks on Rwandan civilian, military, and government targets, but these have become rare in recent years. Although the crime rate is low by regional standards and the main threat is non-violent opportunistic theft, Kigali has experienced some crime increases in recent years. Civil unrest is rare, and most demonstrations tend to be peaceful, with most recorded demonstrations dating back to the 1994 genocide.
Last updated: May 12, 2022
Infrastructure
The country’s main commercial airport, Kigali International Airport (KGL), is small but well-equipped, and domestic air travel is generally considered safe and efficient.
The roads in the cities and big cities of the country are generally asphalted and in good condition. However, some secondary and minor roads are not well maintained and can become impassable during the rainy season, effectively cutting off traffic in some remote areas for weeks.
Rwanda has no ports.
The government is also investing heavily in power generation and transmission infrastructure, aiming for 100 percent access to electricity by 2024, but progress has been relatively slow so far.
The country is considered an attractive target for cyber attacks. It is believed that the defense against such attacks is weak.
Last updated: April 3, 2023
Environment
Rwanda is located in a seismic zone and occasionally experiences earthquakes, but they are usually of moderate magnitude and rarely cause significant damage or casualties. The country is also prone to floods and landslides, especially during the rainy seasons from October to November and from March to May. Droughts occur regularly in some parts of Rwanda, and the El Niño phenomenon has increased the size and extent of floods over the years. Deforestation and destructive agricultural practices also increase the impact of floods and landslides.
Last updated: March 16, 2022
Health and Medical
Malaria and meningitis are major health risks for travelers to Rwanda. Reputable medical centers are concentrated in Kigali, but are generally not suitable for major surgeries. Although there are no major concerns about the quality of medicines in the country, availability is often somewhat limited in rural areas. Despite improvements in water storage and transportation infrastructure, tap water is not considered safe for consumption.
Last updated: February 24, 2022
Political
Rwanda has emerged as one of the most stable governments in the region over the past two decades due to the complete control of President Paul Kagame’s Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). The party has easily won all legislative and executive polls since 2003, and the government continues to enjoy strong public support. Corruption is said to be low by regional standards, and officials have little tolerance for embezzlement or misappropriation of public funds. The rule of law has also improved in recent years, but judicial independence remains weak and security services have been dogged by allegations of extralegal activities targeting the opposition.
Last updated: March 28, 2022
