Rwanda is a rising star in the Great Lakes Region of Africa. It has risen from the ashes of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi to the heights of claiming global prize as one of the fastest rising economies in Africa and the world. Clean cities and Smart Digital Cities are its unique award as it transforms itself to becoming an environment-friendly tech-savvy digital Republic.

Here is a country to visit as you witness its rebirth and rise to glory. You will definitely be glad to have left a footmark on its path to stardom. Rwanda is an East African country etched in the Great Lakes Region. It is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and DRC. There is more to explore about this country. Nonetheless, we have assembled 10 interesting facts about Rwanda to help you gear up.

1. Between April and early July 1994 (~100 days), one million Rwandans were killed during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis. Participants were given incentives, in the form of money, food, or land, to kill Tutsis; they could appropriate the land of the Tutsis they killed. Soldiers and police officers encouraged ordinary citizens to take part in the killings. Civilians were motivated by the then government to murder their neighbors, friends, spouses, child and even relatives.
2. In 1959, the majority ethnic group, the Hutus, overthrew the ruling Tutsi king. Over the next few years, thousands of Tutsis were slaughtered and around 150,000 were driven into exile to nearby countries. For a long time, Rwanda has had a history of ethnic strife – made worse by colonialists that sought to favor and elevate the minority Tutsi over the majority Hutu in their divide-and-rule policy. While in the pre-colonial period Tutsi still dominated political administration, there was peace and harmony due to mutual understanding, mutual collaboration and interdependency as Hutus were largely agrarian while Tutsis were largely pastoralists. Thus, there was viable exchange of value which each side appreciated rather than the competition, oppression, subjugation and exploitation introduced by the colonial administration. It is this policy that brought anger, resentment, and civil strife – thus leading to Hutus seeking to topple the Tutsi dynasty. Unresolved, this later resulted in the 1994 genocide. Visiting Rwanda genocide memorials tells it all about the consequences of divide-and rule-colonize policy advanced by the Belgian and later on by the French colonizers. A consequence that resulted into a million deaths within 100 days.
3. In 1959, the majority ethnic group, the Hutus, overthrew the ruling Tutsi king. Over the next few years, thousands of Tutsis were slaughtered and around 150,000 were driven into exile to nearby countries.
4. Between 2001 and 2012, real GDP growth in Rwanda averaged 8.1% per annum. According to the Fitch rating agency, Rwanda is experiencing ‘rapid and inclusive economic growth driven by credible economic policy.
5. On the last Saturday of every month, every Rwandan, starting with the President of the Republic participates in Umuganda, a day of national community service. Through Umuganda, Rwandans have built schools, medical centres, hydroelectric plants, rehabilitated wetlands to create highly productive agricultural plots, and cleaned their cities, towns and villages – making Kigali one of the cleanest cities in Africa. This goes with safety and security as all citizens are encouraged to sustain security that is being enjoyed today.
6. Rwanda is only one of three countries in Africa where you can visit Mountain Gorillas in the Wild. Gorillas are the most common apes in the central African region, which encompasses the western part of Rwanda. Gorilla tourism is a major activity that earns Rwanda with foreign currency. It is quite captivating to watch Gorillas in their natural habit – their proud movement, their game, their domineering voice, among others. The good thing is that they are not caged but free.
   Rwanda is the 4th smallest country on the African Continent. Rwanda is a very tiny country by African standard. Its total area is just 26,338 km2, which is equivalent to a small district in the neighbouring Tanzania or DRC. In the entire world, Rwanda ranks 149th out of almost 200 countries in terms of total area.
7. Rwanda is also known as the Land of a Thousand Hills because most of the country is covered by rolling, grassy hills. Hills and valleys covered by lush vegetation make up Rwandan landscape. There could be more than a thousand hills dotting this evergreen landscape only made bare in some parts by human activity and erosion.
8. Rwanda is largely a rural country with about 90% of the population involved in agricultural, agro-processing and mineral work. Rwanda has a very rich agricultural land. Tea and coffee are the major cash crops grown in Rwanda, as they are fit for fertile rainy highlands such as of Rwanda. Apart from cash crops, subsistence farming is practices, especially due to high population density that greatly constraints acreage available to large-scale mechanized farming.
9. It is simply a no-no walk across lawns in Kigali, so stay off the grass. Walking across lawns is a criminal offense in Kigali. This due to conservation effort. The impact of this policy can be felt, as Kigali is environmentally green, unlike many concrete jungles that dots cities of its neighbouring countries. Fresh air in a clean atmosphere makes Kigali a breath-taking place for visitors.
10. You can start a business in 48 hours in Rwanda. High quality customer services and satisfaction is not only a priority of the government but also anyone involved in business or activity involving service delivery. Great political will, economic development security, corruption free are some of the motivations for visiting this great country in Africa.