Rwanda

American

[roo-ahn-duh] / ruˈɑn də /

noun

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.

Rwanda British

/ rʊˈændə /

noun

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)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Rwanda Cultural

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Graham obliged—arguing that Rwanda was a reliable U.S. partner and sanctions could alienate it.

From The Wall Street Journal

There has also been fighting between Rwanda and the DRC, after the two sides signed a peace agreement in Washington.

From BBC

The Paris Agreement authorities in Rwanda, Malawi, Cambodia, Ghana, Guyana and Sri Lanka didn’t respond to a request for comment.

From The Wall Street Journal

It will also touch on the challenges they faced along the way, including a coup in the Comoros, being shot at, as well as Sir David's famous encounter with gorillas in Rwanda.

From BBC

He then identifies four African cases where gross domestic product experienced rapid per capita growth—Botswana, Ethiopia, Mauritius and Rwanda.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023