Rwanda Country Report

Rwanda has transformed into one of Africa’s most peaceful countries and enjoyed robust economic growth over the past decade while avoiding renewed ethnic strife between the majority-Hutu population and minority Tutsis. Despite the regime's systematic repression of dissent, President Paul Kagame continues to enjoy popular support for bringing order back to Rwanda after the 1994 genocide which left the country in ruins. There remain concerns over insurgent activity, although this occurs primarily in the neighboring DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo), where large numbers of refugees fled following the civil war. Levels of corruption and criminal activity are relatively low by regional standards, although some concerns exist over petty crime. Armed robberies do occur but the incidence is low. The primary threats to foreign travelers are from road safety, health hazards and infrastructural weaknesses.

Conflict risks are limited in Rwanda, although border regions with the DRC have been prone to spill-over of ethnic conflict and localized escalations of cross-border tensions. There is a small terrorist threat in the country, with occasional grenade attacks directed against Rwandan civilian, military and government targets, although these have become rare in recent years. Crime rates are low by regional standards, with the main threat stemming from non-violent opportunistic theft, but there has been an increase in some offenses in Kigali in recent years. Civil unrest is rare and most demonstrations tend to be peaceful, with most recorded demonstrations being linked to the 1994 genocide.

The country's main commercial airport, Kigali International Airport (KGL), is small but offers good facilities and air travel in the country is generally considered safe and efficient.

Roads in major towns and cities in the country are generally paved and in good condition. However, some secondary and minor roads are poorly maintained and can become impassable during the rainy seasons, leaving some remote areas effectively cut off for weeks at a time.

There are no seaports in Rwanda.

The government has also been investing heavily in its electricity production and transmission infrastructure with a goal of 100 percent electricity access by 2024, although progress has so far been relatively slow.

The country is considered an attractive target for cyberattacks. Its defenses against such an attack are thought to be weak.

Rwanda is located in a seismically-active region and experiences occasional earthquakes, although these are typically of moderate intensity and rarely cause significant damage or casualties. The country is also prone to significant flooding and landslides, particularly during the rainy seasons that run between October and November and March and May. Several parts of Rwanda are subject to periodic droughts, while the El Nino phenomenon has increased the scale and scope of flooding in some years. Deforestation and destructive farming practices have also increased the impact of floods and landslides.

Malaria and meningitis represent the main health risks for travelers in Rwanda. Reputable medical facilities are concentrated in Kigali but are generally not suitable for major surgeries. There are no major concerns pertaining to the quality of pharmaceuticals in the country, although access may vary by region. Basic medications are generally accessible, however, supply of essential medicines needed by travelers is limited. Despite improvements in water storage and transport infrastructure, tap water is not considered safe for consumption.

Rwanda has emerged as one of the most stable governments in the region over the last two decades, in part due to the complete domination of President Paul Kagame’s Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). The party has comfortably won every legislative and executive poll since 2003 and the government continues to enjoy significant popular support. Corruption is low by regional standards, with authorities credited with a low tolerance for graft and misappropriation of public funds. Rule of law has also improved in recent years, although the independence of the judiciary remains tenuous and security agencies have been dogged by allegations of extrajudicial activities targeting opponents.