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Country Background

Rwanda is a landlocked country located in Eastern Africa. It is bounded by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rwanda is located in the African Great Lakes region and is highly elevated. The capital of Rwanda is Kigali. The official languages are English, French, and Kinyarwanda. The country's population in 2017 was approximately 11.9 million. Rwanda is a predominantly Christian country, with about 93% of the population Christian. The population of Rwanda is young, with over 50% of the population under 25 years old. As such, the population is expected to greatly increase in the next decade. 

Constitution & Legal Structure

Rwanda is referred to as a presidential republic, in which sovereignty belongs to the people and the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. The current Constitution of Rwanda was ratified in 2003, and was amended most recently in 2015. The system of government is based on principles of separation and checks and balances and has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legal system of Rwanda is a mixed legal system of civil law, based on the German and Belgian models, and influenced by customary law.

Constitutional Status of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no constitutional status in Rwanda.  

Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Rwanda. 

Dominant School of Islamic Law

Rwanda has no official school of Islamic law. 

Sources of Law for Legal Research

Official Publications

• Legislative
  • Parliament 
  • Official Gazette
• Executive
  • Government Portal
  • President Paul Kagame's website
  • Prime Minister
• Judicial
  • Judiciary

Unofficial Databases

• FAOLEX: Rwanda (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) database of national laws and regulations on food, agriculture, and renewable natural resources.
• NATLEX: Rwanda (International Labour Organization) database of national laws on labor, social security, and related human rights.
• RefWorld Legal Information: Rwanda (UNHCR)
• WIPO Lex: Rwanda (World Intellectual Property Organization)
• Juricaf: Rwanda decisions in French

References:

For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide, and for a narrative review, see the GlobaLex Foreign Law Research Guide (most updated version, where available). The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].