Government and Politics of Rwanda

Government Type

republic; presidential, multiparty system

Administrative Divisions

12 prefectures (in French - prefectures, singular - prefecture; in Kinyarwanda - plural - NA, singular - prefegitura); Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi, Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali Rurale, Kigali-ville, Umutara, Ruhengeri

Legal System

based on German and Belgian civil law systems and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal adult

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Rwanda; if the father is stateless or unknown, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Edouard NGIRENTE (since 30 August 2017) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: President elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; elections last held 4 August 2017 (next to be held in 2024) election results: Paul KAGAME reelected president; Paul KAGAME 98.79%, Philippe MPAYIMANA 0.72%, Frank HABINEZA 0.49%

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (26 seats; 12 members elected by local councils, 8 appointed by the president, 4 by the Political Organizations Forum, and 2 representing institutions of higher learning; members serve eight-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies (80 seats; 53 members elected by popular vote, 24 women elected by local bodies, and 3 selected by youth and disability organizations; members serve five-year terms). Elections: Senate - last held in October 2019 (next to be held in 2027); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 15-16 July 2024 (next to be held in 2029). Election results: Chamber of Deputies seats by party following the 2024 elections - Rwandan Patriotic Front coalition (RPF Inkotanyi) 37, Liberal Party (PL) 5, Social Democratic Party (PSD) 4, additional 27 members indirectly elected, including 24 women's seats and 3 seats for youth and disability representatives; women hold approximately 61% of seats in the Chamber of Deputies, making Rwanda's parliament one of the highest in the world for female representation.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court; High Courts of the Republic; Provincial Courts; District Courts; mediation committees

Political Parties

Centrist Democratic Party or PDC [Alfred MUKEZAMFURA]; Democratic Popular Union of Rwanda or UDPR [Adrien RANGIRA]; Democratic Republican Movement or MDR (officially banned) [Celestin KABANDA]; Islamic Democratic Party or PDI [Andre BUMAYA]; Liberal Party or PL [Prosper HIGIRO]; Party for Democratic Renewal (officially banned) [leader NA]; Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF [Paul KAGAME]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Vincent BIRUTA]

Head of State

President Paul KAGAME

Head of Government

Prime Minister Edouard NGIRENTE

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Elections

Senate - last held in October 2019 (next to be held in 2027); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 15-16 July 2024 (next to be held in 2029).

Election Results

Chamber of Deputies seats by party following the 2024 elections - Rwandan Patriotic Front coalition (RPF Inkotanyi) 37, Liberal Party (PL) 5, Social Democratic Party (PSD) 4, additional 27 members indirectly elected, including 24 women's seats and 3 seats for youth and disability representatives; women hold approximately 61% of seats in the Chamber of Deputies, making Rwanda's parliament one of the highest in the world for female representation.

Constitution

on 5 May 1995, the Transitional National Assembly adopted as Fundamental Law the constitution of 18 June 1991, provisions of the 1993 Arusha peace accord, the July 1994 Declaration by the Rwanda Patriotic Front, and the November 1994 multiparty protocol of understanding

Independence

1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

International Organization Participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Zac NSENGA chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882 FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael ARIETTI embassy: 337 Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali telephone: [250] 50 56 01 through 03 FAX: [250] 57 2128

Capital City

Kigali

Location

1 57 S, 30 03 E

Time Difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

the city takes its name from nearby Mount Kigali; the name "Kigali" is composed of the Bantu prefix ki and the Rwandan gali meaning "broad" and likely refers to the broad, sprawling hill that has been dignified with the title of "mount"

U.S. Embassy Kigali 2657 Avenue de la Gendarmerie Kigali, Rwanda Telephone: 250 (252) 596-400 Facsimile: 250 (252) 596-591 Mailing address: B.P. 28, Kigali, Rwanda Consular Section e-mail: consularkigali@state.gov. American Citizen Services hours: Tuesdays from 8:00 - 12:00 and Fridays from 8:00 - 12:00 by appointment. The Embassy is closed on U.S. and Rwandan holidays.

Military Branches

Rwanda Defense Force (RDF): Rwanda Army (Rwanda Land Force), Rwanda Air Force (Force Aerienne Rwandaise, FAR)

Service Age and Obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; Rwandan citizenship is required, as is a 9th grade education for enlisted recruits and an A-level certificate for officer candidates; enlistment is either as contract (5-years, renewable twice) or career; retirement (for officers and senior NCOs) after 20 years of service or at 40-60 years of age