Rwanda

[roo-ahn-duh]

noun

1. a republic in central Africa, E of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: formerly comprising the N part of the Belgian trust territory of Ruanda-Urundi; became independent 1962. 10,169 sq. mi. (26,338 sq. km). Kigali.

Rwanda

/ rʊˈændə /

noun

1. Former name (until 1962): Ruanda. a republic in central Africa: part of German East Africa from 1899 until 1917, when Belgium took over the administration; became a republic in 1961 after a Hutu revolt against the Tutsi (1959); fighting between the ethnic groups broke out repeatedly after independence, culminating in the genocide of Tutsis by Hutus in 1994. Official languages: Kinyarwanda, English, French, and Swahili. Religion: Roman Catholic, African Protestant, Muslim, and animist. Currency: Rwanda franc. Capital: Kigali. Pop: 12 012 589 (2013 est). Area: 26 338 sq km (10 169 sq miles)

Rwanda

1. Republic in central Africa bordered by Uganda to the north, Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, Burundi on the south, and Tanzania on the east. Its capital is Kigali.

It has long been marked by ethnic strife between majority Hutus and dominant Tutsis. When its president died in a suspicious plane cash in 1994, Hutu militia massacred at least 500,000 Tutsis in an act of genocide.

Rwanda gained its independence from Belgium in 1962.

Other Word Forms

• Rwandan adjective

Example Sentences

That seemed to amuse Camilla, but Charles and Johnson were said to have had a frosty relationship, including a dispute over his government's plan to process asylum applications in Rwanda years later.

From BBC

She gave no details about their nationalities, only explaining that four of them would remain in Rwanda, with three opting to return to their home countries.

From BBC

Rwanda's ministers proved to be such good negotiators they squeezed the UK's wallet for £700m - and received nobody in return.

From BBC

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp claims the numbers would be at zero if his party's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda had been implemented.

From BBC

Philp added that the previous Conservative government's plan to send some migrants to Rwanda, which was stalled by legal challenges, would have made this possible.

From BBC