Languages of Rwanda

An anti-AIDS campaign poster in English, Rwanda.

Kinyarwanda, French, and English[1] are the official languages of Rwanda.

Since the 1994 genocide, the complications of relations with the current French government, the return of numerous Tutsi refugees who went to Uganda (anglophone), and also[2] the intervention of the United States, English has been used by more of the population and administration.

In 2008 the government changed the medium of education from French to English.[3]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97245421 English To Become Official Language In Rwanda
  2. ↑ http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/afrique/rwanda.htm "Depuis la fin de la guerre froide, l'Afrique est même devenue plus «visible» pour les États-Unis, et les relations bilatérales que la France a longtemps entretenues avec de nombreux pays du continent s'en trouvent ainsi profondément modifiées (lire diminuées). D’ailleurs, en mars 1998, le voyage en Afrique du premier président américain (Bill Clinton) à visiter ce continent est venu encore confirmer que les «terres francophones» s'ouvrent maintenant à la compétition politique, économique et culturelle. La preuve en est que maintenant ce sont les Américains qui soutiennent militairement le Rwanda, et ce, de manière très active."
    English translation: Since the end of the Cold War, Africa has become even more "visible" to the United States and the bilateral relations France has long maintained with many African nations thus find themselves profoundly changed (read diminished). Moreover, in March 1998, a trip to Africa by the first U.S. president (Bill Clinton) to visit the continent again confirmed that the "francophone lands" are now open to political, economic and cultural competition. The proof of this is that it is now the Americans who militarily support Rwanda, and in a very active way.
  3. ↑ http://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/rwanda

External links