RWF

$NA

Currency (code):

Rwandan franc (RWF)

Currency code:

Exchange rates:

Rwandan francs (RWF) per US dollar - 585 (2007), 560 (2006), 610 (2005), 574.62 (2004), 537.66 (2003)

Communications
Rwanda

Telephones - main lines in use:

23,100 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

635,100 (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: small, inadequate telephone system primarily serves business and government domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the provinces by microwave radio relay and, recently, by cellular telephone service; much of the network depends on wire and HF radiotelephone; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone density is only about 7 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 250; international connections employ microwave radio relay to neighboring countries and satellite communications to more distant countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) in Kigali (includes telex and telefax service)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 8 (two main FM programs are broadcast through a system of repeaters, three international FM programs include the BBC, VOA, and Deutchewelle), shortwave 1 (2005)

Radios:

601,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (2004)

Televisions:

NA; probably less than 1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.rw

Internet hosts:

2,363 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2002)

Internet users:

100,000 (2007)

Transportation
Rwanda

Airports:

9 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 14,008 km paved: 2,662 km unpaved: 11,346 km (2004)

Waterways:

Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye

Military
Rwanda

Military branches:

Rwandan Defense Forces: Army, Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,430,469 females age 16-49: 2,392,933 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,404,066 females age 16-49: 1,403,700 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 111,791 female: 112,131 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues
Rwanda

Disputes - international:

fighting among ethnic groups - loosely associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces in Great Lakes region transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda - abated substantially from a decade ago due largely to UN peacekeeping, international mediation, and efforts by local governments to create civil societies; nonetheless, 57,000 Rwandan refugees still reside in 21 African states, including Zambia, Gabon, and 20,000 who fled to Burundi in 2005 and 2006 to escape drought and recriminations from traditional courts investigating the 1994 massacres; the 2005 DROC and Rwanda border verification mechanism to stem rebel actions on both sides of the border remains in place

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 46,272 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 4,400 (Burundi) (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

@Saint Barthelemy

Introduction
Saint Barthelemy

Background:

Discovered in 1493 by Christopher COLUMBUS who named it for his brother Bartolomeo, St. Barthelemy was first settled by the French in 1648. In 1784, the French sold the island to Sweden, who renamed the largest town Gustavia, after the Swedish King GUSTAV III, and made it a free port; the island prospered as a trade and supply center during the colonial wars of the 18th century. France repurchased the island in 1878 and placed it under the administration of Guadeloupe. St. Barthelemy retained its free port status along with various Swedish appelations such as Swedish street and town names, and the three-crown symbol on the coat of arms. In 2003, the populace of the island voted to secede from Guadeloupe and in 2007, the island became a French overseas collectivity.

Geography
Saint Barthelemy

Location:

located approximately 125 miles northwest of Guadeloupe

Geographic coordinates: