Rwanda
-- Transport
Rwanda
is 1,500
kilometers
from the
Indian Ocean.
Since Rwanda
has no rail
network,
it relies
on two main
export routes
to the Indian
Ocean: one
by lake
and rail
to Dar es
Salaam,
and the
other by
road to
Mombasa.
This route
through
Mombasa
normally
carries
more than
70% of Rwanda's
imports
and about
80% of exports.
Rwanda's
external
trade is
highly vulnerable
to fluctuations
in economic
and political
relations
with Kenya,
Tanzania
and Uganda.
Despite
its political
difficulties,
Rwanda's
arterial
roads remain
in good
condition.
There are
about 1,200
kilometers
of tarred
roads and
another
12,000 kilometers
of unpaved
main and
secondary
roads. In
1992 there
were 27,441
registered
vehicles.
Commercial
transport
is largely
in private
hands. The
country
has no rail
network,
but Kanombe
airport
has been
repaired
and is functioning.
The Belgian
carrier,
Sabena,
has scheduled
direct flights
to Kigali.
The capitol
can be easily
reached
from Kampala,
Nairobi,
and Bujumbura.
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total:
12,000 km
paved:
1,000 km
unpaved:
11,000 km
(1997 est.)
Waterways:
Lac Kivu
navigable
by shallow-draft
barges and
native craft
Ports
and harbors:
Cyangugu,
Gisenyi,
Kibuye
Airports:
7 (1997
est.)
Airportswith
paved runways:
total:
4
over
3,047
m: 1
914 to 1,523
m: 2
under
914 m: 1
(1997 est.)
Airportswith
unpaved
runways:
total:
3
914 to 1,523
m: 1
under
914 m: 2
(1997 est.)
Source:
CIA World
Fact Book,
1999