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Sub-Saharan Africa
Rwanda is one of the smallest states in Africa and the continent’s most densely populated country. Its history has been defined by recurrent ethnic conflicts between the Hutu and Tutsi groups. In 1994, their hostilities culminated in a cruel genocide. The massive displacement and subsequent return of around 3.8 million refugees have reversed years of development progress and weakened Rwanda’s social structures. Large sections of the population are traumatised and the impacts of the genocide can still be felt.
In addition to prosecuting perpetrators of the genocide through the regular courts, "Gacaca courts" are also playing a part in coming to terms with the crimes committed. Gacaca courts are village courts based on Rwanda’s traditional system of law. Although certain risks are associated with this system of community justice, it is nevertheless making a decisive contribution to national reconciliation. The community courts have now handled more than 800,000 cases. The Gacaca process is due to end in 2010.
National reconciliation is important for stability both in Rwanda itself and in the conflict-prone Great Lakes region. Rwanda is increasingly taking on responsibility at regional and international level. Since the start of 2009, cooperation between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo has greatly improved. The regional peace process is supported by the international community through its development policy.
Poverty reduction
Rwanda is currently in a phase of political consolidation. The government has a clear willingness and good capacities for reform. It is consistently pursuing its ambitious efforts to improve the rule of law, general economic conditions and basic social provision – with success: Rwanda has already made progress on meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The proportion of people living in poverty has been reduced and various social indicators have improved, in some cases considerably. For example, in 2007, 94 per cent of all school-age children in Rwanda attended primary school, compared with just 69 per cent in 2001. The under-5 mortality rate decreased by 35 per cent over the same period.
In the last few years, the global economic crisis has slowed economic growth in Rwanda. Rwanda achieved 3 per cent growth in 2009, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is predicting growth of 5 per cent for 2010. Despite this positive outlook, however, more than half the Rwandan population still lives below the poverty line.
Relations with Germany
From 1885 to 1916, Rwanda was a part of German East Africa. The country's relations with Germany are good. Germany was the first donor, in April 1995, to hold government negotiations with the new government following the end of the civil war.
Today, promoting the peace process in the Great Lakes region is the overarching goal of development cooperation with Rwanda. The focus of this cooperation is on the following priorities: democratisation within Rwandan society, promoting civil society and public administration, health, family planning and combating HIV/AIDS, as well as sustainable economic development. The Rwandan government and development partners are also constantly striving to improve the efficiency of bilateral cooperation in order to achieve the greatest possible impacts for Rwanda’s development.
German Embassy

German Embassy in Rwanda
10, Avenue Paul VI
Kiyovu
Kigali
Rwanda
Phone: +250 / 57 51 41
Fax: +250 / 50 20 87






