In 2003, Rwanda was a country located in East Africa and it had a population of around 8 million people. Its economy was largely driven by agriculture and the nation had recently emerged from a devastating civil war. Rwanda had adopted a democratic multi-party system but corruption remained an issue. The country maintained strong diplomatic ties with other African nations such as Uganda and Kenya while it also maintained close relations with the United States. In 2003, tourism to Rwanda was beginning to grow as visitors were drawn to its unique culture and history. According to computergees, the country offered numerous attractions such as Volcanoes National Park where visitors could observe gorillas in their natural habitat, the Akagera National Park which offered opportunities for safari activities, and the Kigali Genocide Memorial which served as a reminder of Rwanda’s past atrocities. Additionally, there were many opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking in Nyungwe Forest or visiting the Nyamirambo Women’s Centre which promoted women’s empowerment initiatives.
Yearbook 2003
Rwanda. In January, 40,000 prisoners were released, several of whom were suspected of being involved in the 1994 genocide. This was done both to ease the congestion in prisons and to contribute to reconciliation. The murderers who were released – and who admitted guilt and repentance – had to spend some time in newly established rehabilitation centers before being allowed to go home.
Nine years after the massacres of 800,000 people, legal proceedings continued. After the largest single trial to date, 11 people were sentenced to death, 73 to life imprisonment and 21 to prison for up to 25 years. According to Countryaah.com, Rwanda Independence Day is July 1. The case involved the murders of 50,000 people in the Gikonko district. Seven judgments were handed down in the Arusha UN Court in Tanzania. A total of 15 people have been sentenced in nine years. Of particular importance in the case of precedent was the ruling in December against three former bosses at the “hate media” that led to the genocide. Two of them were sentenced to life imprisonment and one to 35 years.
In September, Gambian lawyer Hassan Bubacar Jallow assumed the post of Chief Prosecutor in Arusha since Rwandan criticism led to Swiss exchange Carla del Ponte being replaced.
A new constitution was approved in a referendum in May. The basic idea was national unity. banned ethnic or religiously based parties. The Constitution also stipulated continued co-government – regardless of the election results – and stated that the President, the Prime Minister and the President of Parliament must not belong to the same party. Since the constitution was adopted, presidential and parliamentary elections were announced. At the same time, the largest opposition party, the hut-dominated Democratic Republican Movement (MDR), was banned. Its presidential candidate, former Prime Minister Faustin Twagiramungu, was forced to stand as an independent.
After an election campaign in which allegations of ethnic rioting scared most oppositionists into silence and where the regime had total control over the mass media, President Paul Kagame gained over 95% of the vote in the presidential election. His party, the Tutsidom-dominated former guerrilla Rwanda’s Patriotic Front (FPR), won big in the parliamentary elections. In practice, the small Tuts minority thus regained the power monopoly it had before Rwanda’s independence in 1962. However, this should not be pointed out as all debate on the ethnic conflict was banned.
Some hope for the future nevertheless sent the message in November that the leader of one of the hutumilis who had been hiding in Congo (Kinshasa) since 1994 decided to interrupt the fight against the government. Paul Rwarakabije, leader of the FDLR militia, withdrew from the violence and left home, accompanied by hundreds of his soldiers.
Republic of Rwanda Brief Guide
According to AbbreviationFinder, The Republic of Rwanda, or Rwanda, is a landlocked Central African state. Its border neighbors are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, Uganda to the north, Burundi to the south and Tanzania to the east. It covers an area of about 26,000 square kilometers and has a population of about 7 million.
Rwanda is a unique safari destination due to its mountain gorillas. Starlight Tours organizes gorilla safaris in Rwanda’s protected areas on request in cooperation with the country’s Ministry of Tourism and nature conservation organizations. Rwanda is the 54th member of the British Commonwealth (since 2009), although it has rather historical ties to the French-speaking world as a former Belgian colony.
Food and drink
The basic ingredients of Rwandan food are e.g. bananas, sweet potatoes, beans and cassava. In the great lakes of Africa, a lot of ubugar, porridge made from cassava or cornmeal, is eaten. Rwandan food is quite simple but hearty and tasty. The diet is high in carbohydrates, including e.g. rice, vegetables, fried green bananas and beans. These are supplemented with peanut and chili sauce, possibly also goat and fish meat. Umutsima is cassava as well as corn, isombea contains eggplant, spinach and cassava leaves, while mizuzu is fried plantain. The most commonly used fish species in the lake areas are tilapia as well as sambaza. Water and beverages must be industrially bottled. It is also a good idea to rinse fruits and vegetables with bottled water. Heated or tablet-purified water can be drunk.
Safety
General precautions should be taken throughout the journey, as movement in certain areas may be unsafe. Please ask your tour guide and local guide for current information. For more information on traveling in the country, see the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ travel bulletin.
Take a trip (safaris)
Binoculars (we recommend each with their own binoculars, note also for couples both their own), Camera accessories and memory cards, spare batteries. It fits comfortably during the day in shorts, a T-shirt and sandals or sneakers. In the evenings, the hotels and lodge have a casual safari-themed Dress Style, meaning we recommend long-legged cotton trousers and long-sleeved shirts (also for any mosquitoes). Morning and evening park times can be very cool, so a light warm knit and windproof jacket are included. Also included is a small daypack or bag where you can store your personal belongings during day trips. The suitcases are in the trunk of the SUV. Luggage space in safari cars is very limited, so luggage should be packed in soft bags. Headdress, sunscreens (high protection factor), wet wipes, hand sanitizer gel, small knife (observe the safety instructions for packing when traveling by air). Footwear that has been run in. If you bring sandals, we recommend well-fitting strap sandals for safaris. Mosquito venom should be brought from Finland, of course it can also be obtained on site if necessary.
Take the trip (gorilla patch) – High-heeled, waterproof trekking / hiking shoes (Hiking can be long and the ground wet. Comfortable, self-propelled and suitable shoes are paramount.)
– Long-legged trousers and long-sleeved t-shirt Lightweight, breathable and quick-drying material helps you stay comfortable despite long legs and sleeves and warm conditions.)
– Rainwear (eg raincoat)
– Headgear
– Gloves (lightweight gloves that protect against vegetation)
– Imaging equipment (camera, memory card, spare battery, camcorder, etc.) and a waterproof protective bag for valuable electronics.