Rwanda is perhaps the only country besides the United States where July 4th is a national holiday. And while it is true that Rwandans have great admiration for the U.S., the Fourth of July is only coincidentally a shared day of celebration.
In 1994, that date marked the end of the Rwandan Genocide, and the birth of the new government that rose from the ashes. This Friday, the nation will be celebrating its 14th year of peace and the growing prosperity that has been the result. This is a virtually unbelievable, unpredictable achievement in light of the forces that aligned to prevent it.
What does peace and development look like in Rwanda? Housing projects are springing up; per capita income is up; and health indicators are dramatically improved, with more than 50,000 people receiving the AIDS drugs they need via some of the best delivery mechanisms in all of Africa. Two international-quality malls have sprouted up in Kigali and are doing a brisk business; international banks are eyeing the market; internet service is still the cheapest per megabyte (and fastest) in all of Africa.
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