Rwanda is a poor African nation that has suffered bitterly from ethnic-based civil war. The amount of fertile land is limited, however, and deforestation and soil erosion continue to reduce the production potential.
Manufacturing focuses mainly on the processing of agricultural products.
A structural adjustment program with the World Bank began in October 1990. Civil war in 1990 devastated wide areas, especially in the north, and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. In 1994-96, peace was restored throughout much of the country. In 1996-97 most of the refugees who fled the war returned to Rwanda. Plentiful rains helped agriculture in 1996, and outside aid continued to support this desperately poor economy.