Rebuilding after the genocide was a slow process to start. One thing that took place quickly was communications infrastructure. Before the genocide, there may have been one phone per village. When I went to visit, 15 years after the genocide, every corner of the country had cell phone service. That is quite a feat of engineering. Today Rwanda's internet speeds are rated higher than South Africa and in the top 50 countries in the world.
Rwanda is setting itself up to be the technology hub of Africa. Part of the Rwanda 2020 vision, is to be the tech hub of Africa, similar to that of Silicon Valley or even Singapore. According to Time Magazine, "Vision 2020 is bold, but it’s working. And many outside Africa — and inside — are marveling at how an economy long-dominated by subsistence farming is becoming a high-tech hub — and one of the 20 fastest-growing countries in the world."
As my friends have told me, I wouldn't recognize much of Kigali (the capital city) if I were to go back today. I can't wait to go again and see the change!
Page citations:
https://slate.com/technology/2013/12/rwandas-high-tech-future-20-years-after-genocide-the-nation-aspires-to-be-a-tech-hub.html
https://spectator.clingendael.org/en/publication/rwanda-25-years-future-shadow-past
https://time.com/3770968/rwanda-technology-genocide/
Photo credits: Ian Dort