Rwanda

American  

[roo-ahn-duh] / ruˈɑn də /

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.

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Rwanda British  

/ 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)

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Rwanda Cultural  

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.

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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

Like Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan have started screening travelers entering from Congo for fever, vomiting, headaches and fatigue.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

Neighbouring Rwanda has also closed its borders with DR Congo.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

But he said that he was told that Rwandans were being allowed to go back home, and so were Congolese nationals living in Rwanda.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

To hedge its bets, the United States has in recent months reached deals with producer nations including Australia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Thailand.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

I was supposed to be in eighth grade, as I had finished seventh grade in Rwanda.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana