Rwanda - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Rwanda, it was the name translates as "domain" in the native Kinyarwanda language. The Government system in this country is the presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 4 provinces (in French - provinces, singular - province; in Kinyarwanda - intara for singular and plural) and 1 city* (in French - ville; in Kinyarwanda - umujyi); Est (Eastern), Kigali*, Nord (Northern), Ouest (Western), Sud (Southern)
National symbols

Traditional woven basket with peaked lid; national colors: blue, yellow, green.

The flag
The National flag of Rwanda has three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double width), yellow, and green, with a golden sun with 24 rays near the fly end of the blue band; blue represents happiness and peace, yellow economic development and mineral wealth, green hope of prosperity and natural resources; the sun symbolizes unity, as well as enlightenment and transparency from ignorance.
The National Anthem
Title "Rwanda nziza" (Rwanda, Our Beautiful Country)
Lyric/music Faustin MURIGO/Jean-Bosco HASHAKAIMANA
More about the government of Rwanda
Date of Independence 1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Legal system mixed legal system of civil law, based on German and Belgian models, and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court
International law organization participation has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Constitution
History Several previous; latest adopted by referendum 26 May 2003, effective 4 June 2003
Amendments Proposed by the president of the republic (with Council of Ministers approval) or by two-thirds majority vote of both houses of Parliament; passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote in both houses; changes to constitutional articles on national sovereignty, the presidential term, the form and system of government, and political pluralism also require approval in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2015
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth no
Citizenship by descent only the father must be a citizen of Rwanda; if the father is stateless or unknown, the mother must be a citizen
Dual citizenship recognized no
Residency requirement for naturalization 10 years
Executive Branch
Chief of state President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000)
Head of government Prime Minister Edouard NGIRENTE (since 30 August 2017)
Cabinet Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Elections/appointments president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); note - a constitutional amendment approved in December 2016 reduced the presidential term from 7 to 5 years but included an exception that allowed President KAGAME to serve another 7-year term in 2017, potentially followed by two additional 5-year terms; election last held on 4 August 2017 (next to be held on 15 July 2029); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results
2024:
Paul KAGAME reelected president; Paul KAGAME (RPF) 99.2%, Frank HABINEZA (DGPR) 0.50%, Philippe MPAYIMANA (independent) 0.32%

2017: Paul KAGAME reelected president; Paul KAGAME (RPF) 98.8%, Philippe MPAYIMANA (independent), other 1.2%

 

Legislative branch
Description Bicameral Parliament consists of:
Senate or Senat (26 seats; 12 members indirectly elected by local councils, 8 appointed by the president, 4 appointed by the Political Organizations Forum - a body of registered political parties, and 2 selected by institutions of higher learning; members serve 8-year terms)

Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (80 seats; 53 members directly elected by proportional representation vote, 24 women selected by special interest groups, and 3 selected by youth and disability organizations; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections Senate - last held on 16-18 September 2019 (next to be held 30 September 2024)
Chamber of Deputies - last held on 15 July 2024 (next to be held 31 July 2029)
Election results Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 17, women 9, percentage women 34.6%

Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FPR 37, PSD 5, PL 5, DGPR 2, PDI 2, PS 2 composition - men 36, women 44, percentage women 55%; total Parliament percentage women 50%

 

Judicial branch
Highest court(s) Supreme Court (consists of the chief and deputy chief justices and 5 judges; normally organized into 3-judge panels); High Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and a minimum of 24 judges and organized into 5 chambers)
Judge selection and term of office Supreme Court judges nominated by the president after consultation with the Cabinet and the Superior Council of the Judiciary (SCJ), a 27-member body of judges, other judicial officials, and legal professionals) and approved by the Senate; chief and deputy chief justices appointed for 8-year nonrenewable terms; tenure of judges NA; High Court president and vice president appointed by the president of the republic upon approval by the Senate; judges appointed by the Supreme Court chief justice upon approval of the SCJ; judge tenure NA
Subordinate courts High Court of the Republic; commercial courts including the High Commercial Court; intermediate courts; primary courts; and military specialized courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission Ambassador Mathilde MUKANTABANA (since 18 July 2013)
Chancery 1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW,  Washington, DC 20009
Telephone [1] (202) 232-2882
FAX [1] (202) 232-4544
Email address and website
[email protected]

https://rwandaembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission Ambassador Eric KNEEDLER (since 3 October 2023)
Embassy 2657 Avenue de la Gendarmerie (Kaciyiru), P. O. Box 28 Kigali
Mailing address 2210 Kigali Place, Washington DC  20521-2210
Telephone [250] 252 596-400
FAX [250] 252 580-325
Email address and website
[email protected]

https://rw.usembassy.gov/
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales Memorial sites of the Genocide: Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and Bisesero (c); Nyungwe National Park (n)
Key Political parties and their leaders in Rwanda
  • International organization participation
  • ACP
  • AfDB
  • AU
  • CEPGL
  • COMESA
  • EAC
  • EADB
  • FAO
  • G-77
  • IAEA
  • IBRD
  • ICAO
  • ICRM
  • IDA
  • IFAD
  • IFC
  • IFRCS
  • ILO
  • IMF
  • Interpol
  • IOC
  • IOM
  • IPU
  • ISO
  • ITSO
  • ITU
  • ITUC (NGOs)
  • MIGA
  • MINUSMA
  • NAM
  • OIF
  • OPCW
  • PCA
  • UN
  • UNCTAD
  • UNESCO
  • UNHCR
  • UNIDO
  • UNISFA
  • UNMISS
  • UNOOSA
  • UNWTO
  • UPU
  • WCO
  • WHO
  • WIPO
  • WMO
  • WTO
  • All Important Facts about Rwanda

    Want to know more about Rwanda? Check all different factbooks for Rwanda below.

    Rwanda is found in Eastern Africa