Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Rwanda
conventional short form: Rwanda
local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda
local short form: Rwanda
former: Ruanda
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Government type:
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republic; presidential, multiparty system
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Capital:
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Kigali
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Administrative divisions:
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12 provinces (in French - provinces, singular - province; in Kinyarwanda - plural - NA, singular - intara); Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi, Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali Rurale, Kigali-ville, Umutara, Ruhengeri
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Independence:
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1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)
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Constitution:
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a new constitution was adopted 26 May 2003
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Legal system:
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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 |
Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Bernard MAKUZA (since 8 March 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: last held 25 August 2003 (next to be held NA 2011)
election results: Paul KAGAME elected president in first direct popular vote; Paul KAGAME 95.05%, Faustin TWAGIRAMUNGU 3.62%, Jean-Nepomuscene NAYINZIRA 1.33% |
Legislative branch:
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bicameral assembly (parliament and senate) with Assemblée Nationale (53 seats; members elected by direct vote) elections: last held 29 September 2003 (next to be held NA)
election results: seats by party under the Arusha peace accord - RPF 40, PSD 7, PL 6 |
Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court; communal courts; appeals courts
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Political parties and leaders:
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Centrist Democratic Party or PDC [Alfred MUKEZAMFURA]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Vincent BIRUTA]; Democratic Popular Union of Rwanda or UDPR [Adrien RANGIRA ]; Islamic Democratic Party or PDI [Andre BUMAYA]; Liberal Party or PL [Prosper HIGIRO];Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF [Paul KAGAME]
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Flag description:
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three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double width), yellow, and green, with a golden sun with 24 rays near the fly end of the blue band |
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