Rwanda

Travel Blog  •  Ben Keene  •  01.13.06 | 5:51 AM ET

Population: 8,128,553 (2005 est.)
Coordinates: 1 59 S   30 4 E
imageListening to pundits opine about neo-imperialism as we watch events unfold in the Middle East, it can be useful to consider some of the geographic implications of old-fashioned, 20th century imperialism. The African Republic of Rwanda, for example, composed primarily of ethnic Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa peoples, was conquered by Germany in the 1890s and later occupied by Belgium. Whether or not European colonizers intentionally exploited them, differences between groups widened and civil war erupted less than two generations after independence in 1962. This month the Ministry of Local Government took steps to weaken ethnic distinctions by merging the 12 former internal administrative divisions into four provinces, in addition to the capital, Kigali City.

—.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) is the editor of the Oxford Atlas of the World.

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Ben Keene has appeared on National Public Radio, Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio as well as other nationally syndicated programs to discuss geographic literacy and his work updating a bestselling world atlas. Formerly a touring musician, he has written for Transitions Abroad and inTravel.


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