KIGALI, RWANDA
Kigali is the capital of Rwanda and an administrative centre of prefecture of Kigali. The population is about 238000 inhabitants. Kigali is a modern city, the major transport unit of country. It is located a little bit to the south of equator at heights 1,829 above sea level, that provides a warm mild climate the year round.
From 1890 till 1916 Kigali entered into German possessions in the East Africa. In 1922 it passed under the control of Belgium over a compound of terrain Rwanda - Urundi. When in 1962 on this territory under control two independent states were formed - Rwanda and Burundi - Kigali has become the capital of Rwanda.
In the basis of the economy of the city the trade of coffee, large cattle and tin ore lays basically. Alimentary, leather-shoe, chemical, textile, furniture enterprises here works as well. There are international airport and technical college. Through capital the big highway bridging Kigali from Burundi (in the South) and Uganda (in the North) passes. During the recent civil war the city has passed through significant destructions, but to the beginning of 1997 the situation was stabilized.
In April, 1994 near Kigali there was an air crash in which the president of Rwanda J.Habiarimana and the president of Burundi K.Ntarjamira perished. They consider that the catastrophe was not for incidence. After that in Kigali the war between two basic ethnic groups - khutu and tutsi began. According to the conditions of the no predatory agreement made in 1993 between the president Habjarimana and insurgent movement of tutsi, acting under the name the Patriotic Front of Rwanda, peace-making forces of the United Nations already were in the country. However in a heat of disorders the forces of the United Nations have abandoned the capital as had no the mandate on protection of no predatory citizens. After that many city dwellers have been killed, also thousands have been compelled to flee. At the end of 1996 the torrent of refugees has been stopped, and hundreds of thousands of people could return to the houses in Kigali and other regions of country. Nevertheless, in capital till now single instances of terror from time to time flash. It is expected, that not one year will pass until the city will be completely restored.
