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

The trial in The Hague was closely watched in Rwanda, but not by Kabuga himself, who declined to attend and did not even watch by videolink.

From Barron's • May 16, 2026

He accused Rwanda of profiting from DR Congo's rich mineral resources and dragging its feet on implementing the agreement signed in Washington in December.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

Attenborough's natural history series, such as "Life on Earth", in which he had a famous encounter with mountain gorillas in Rwanda, have brought the most remote corners of the planet into living rooms worldwide.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

The night before my sister’s wedding in Rwanda, we attended a big party to celebrate the giving away of the bride.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana