The Economy of Rwanda
1994: Devastation and Rebuilding
The genocide against the Tutsi in 1994 killed around 800,000 people and destroyed the economy, from which Rwanda has since rebuilt.
Any economic story of Rwanda starts here.
Scale
In about 100 days, roughly 800,000 people were killed, and millions were displaced.
Economic collapse
GDP fell by half and institutions were shattered.
Rebuilding
The new government led by Paul Kagame focused on security, rebuilding institutions and reconciliation.
Gacaca
Community courts tried many cases to speed justice and healing.
A new start
Public services had to be rebuilt almost from scratch.
Treating economic recovery as separate from social recovery
Reconciliation shaped the economy.
Key takeaways
- The genocide killed about 800,000.
- GDP halved.
- Institutions were rebuilt.
- Community courts supported justice.
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