A nightmarish 100 days in 1994 has left an indelible legacy, but Rwanda has taken decisive steps to prevent a re-emergence of ethnic strife.
Between 800,000 and 1 million Rwandans were slaughtered in little more than three months. Most of the victims were Tutsi, but moderate Hutus who refused to take part were also killed.
Yet there was no genuine ethnic difference between the two groups, who shared the same language and lived in the same regions.
The genocide left 85,000 child-headed households and a near 70:30 female-to-male ratio. Infrastructure was devastated, and social dislocation has fuelled the spread of HIV.
Some 120,000 people were accused of involvement, overwhelming the legal system. In 2000, the government revived a traditional justice system – called Gacaca – and hearings took place at village level, taking evidence from key eyewitnesses etc. Because Gacaca emphasised confession, forgiveness and reparation, cases were turned round quickly and a great measure of reconciliation was achieved.
Most of Rwanda’s people survive as subsistence farmers, but pressure on land in a country similar in size to Wales has caused severe soil erosion and deforestation.
Rwanda’s economy relies on exports of tea and coffee – and is vulnerable to price fluctuations on the world commodity market, as well as being affected by climate change.