Rwanda: a small, landlocked, East African Nation that suffered one of the largest genocides in world history. Between April and July of 1994, up to 800,000 members of the Tutsi minority population were slaughtered by Hutu nationalists. The tragedy caught the attention of the world, and many believed Rwanda could never recover from such an atrocious event. Yet somehow, the nation of 12 million has not only recovered, but is now becoming one of the most powerful economies in Africa. According to the World Bank Doing Business Report, Rwanda went from being ranked 139 to 62 in the world in a matter of seven years, meaning the country may see a rise in foreign investments as the country continues to prove it is a reliable location for business. Furthermore, the recent economic success of the country has been matched with nearly a 66% drop in child mortality rates and, according to the World Bank, a “near-universal primary school enrollment.” It is clear that Rwanda has not only rebounded from the genocide, but has built a strong foundation for future growth through an increase in education. As Rwanda continues to prioritize improving its education system, businesses will be likely to invest in the country due to the strength of human capital in the future workforce. For this reason, the world should continue to watch and support the growth of Rwanda as the country may become an economic powerhouse in Africa.
Works Cited:
- “Economic Growth and Trade: Rwanda.” U.S. Agency for International Development, 4 Nov. 2016, http://www.usaid.gov/rwanda/economic-growth-and-trade.
- History.com Editors. “Rwandan Genocide.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 14 Oct. 2009, http://www.history.com/topics/africa/rwandan-genocide.
- “Overview.” World Bank, 30 Sept. 2019, http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/rwanda/overview.
The Michigan Economics Journal 