Rwanda Government 1997

Country name
conventional long form: Rwandese Republic
conventional short form : Rwanda
local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda
local short form: Rwanda

Data code RW

Government type republic; presidential, multiparty system

National capital Kigali

Administrative divisions 10 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture in French; plural- NA, singular - prefegitura in Kinyarwanda); Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro,Gisenyi, Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali, Ruhengeri

Independence 1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Constitution on 5 May 1995, the Transitional National Assembly adopted a new constitutionwhich included elements of the constitution of 18 June 1991 as well as provisionsof the 1993 Arusha peace accord and the November 1994 multi-party protocolof understanding

Legal system based on German and Belgian civil law systems and customary law; judicialreview of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage NA years of age; universal adult

Executive branch
chief of state: President Pasteur BIZIMUNGU (since 19 July 1994); Vice President Maj.Gen. Paul KAGAME (since 19 July 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Celestin RWIGEMA (since 1 September 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections : current president installed by force by the Tutsi Rwandan PatrioticFront; normally the president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term;elections last held NA (next to be held NA); prime minister appointed by thepresident

Legislative branch unicameral Transitional National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale deTransition (70 seats; members were predetermined by the Arusha peace accordto serve NA-year terms)
elections: last held 26 December 1988 ( next to be held NA); note - the TransitionalNational Assembly is a power-sharing body established on 12 December 1994following a multi-party protocol of understanding
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPF 19, MDR 13, PSD13, PL 13, PDC 6, PSR 2, PDI 2, other 2; note - the distribution of seatswas predetermined

Judicial branch Constitutional Court, consists of the Court of Cassation and the Councilof State in joint session

Political parties and leaders significant parties include: Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF [AlexisKANYARENGWE, chairman]; Democratic Republican Movement or MDR; Liberal Partyor PL; Democratic and Socialist Party or PSD; Christian Democratic Party orPDC; Islamic Democratic Party or PDI; Rwandan Socialist Party or PSR; NationalMovement for Democracy and Development or MRND, former ruling party

Political pressure groups and leaders Rwanda Patriotic Army or RPA, the RPF military wing [Maj. Gen. PaulKAGAME, commander]; Rally for the Democracy and Return (RDR)

International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Theogene N. RUDASINGWA
chancery: (temporary) Suites C1 and C2, 2141 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington,DC 20007
telephone : [1] (202) 232-2882
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert GRIBBIN III
embassy: Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali
mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali
telephone : [250] 756 01 through 03, 721 26, 771 47
FAX: [250] 721 28

Flag description three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green witha large black letter R centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-Africancolors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Guinea, which has a plain yellowband

NOTE: The information regarding Rwanda on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Rwanda Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Rwanda Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.