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
