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Rwanda: Government

Key Figures

Chief of State:
President Paul Kagame
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente

Overview

Government Name:
Republic of Rwanda
Constitution:
Adopted: 2003; Provides for a two-house parliament, elected President, and multi-party politics. Also sought to prevent Hutu or Tutsi hegemony over political power.
Government Type:
Republic
Republic of Rwanda Flag
Coat of Arms of Republic of Rwanda

Index of Economic Freedom

Grades each country on a scale of 0 to 100, based on ten freedoms, with 100 representing the greatest amount of economic autonomy from government intervention. Source: Heritage Foundation (2023)

Country Risk Rating

B
Political and economic uncertainties and an occasionally difficult business environment can affect corporate payment behavior. Corporate default probability is appreciable. Source: Coface (2022)

Government Branches

Main Powers Election Process Election Cycle 1
Executive

President is the main executive head, while prime minister is the head of the Council of Ministers.

President is elected by plurality vote and prime minister is appointed by president.

President: 7 years; Prime Minister: Not specified
Judicial

Highest and independent judicial power.

Nominated by president and appointed by Senate.

8 years
Legislative

Bicameral legislative body, with the senate being the upper house.

Senate has 12 members indirectly elected by regional governing councils, 8 members appointed by the president, 4 members appointed by the Political Organizations Forum, and 2 members are selected by Institutions of higher learning. Chamber of Deputies has 53 members elected through a closed-list proportional representation system and 27 members indirectly elected by special interest groups. Supreme Court judges are nominated by the president of the republic and approved by the Senate.

Senate: 8 years; Chamber of Deputies: 5 years

Regional Trade Blocs
COMESA
EAC
ECCAS

International Organization Participation [2]

Environmental Agreements [3]

Tax Information [2]

Tax Authority:
Rwanda Revenue Authority
Tax Name:
VAT

Sources:

  1. ElectionGuide http://www.electionguide.org/
  2. EY, http://www.ey.com
  3. CIA World Factbook, https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/
  4. U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/