The National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) has introduced new Rwf5,000 and Rwf2,000 banknotes, which will circulate alongside the existing ones.
As outlined in the official gazette dated August 30, the new banknotes were issued under the directive of President Paul Kagame, following a proposal by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, which received Cabinet approval during its meeting on August 23.
“The new Rwf5,000 and Rwf2,000 banknotes will circulate simultaneously with the existing Rwf500, Rwf1,000, Rwf2,000, and Rwf5,000 notes, all of which remain legal tender in Rwanda,” states part of the gazette.
The decision to introduce new banknotes was motivated by various factors, including the need to enhance security features to prevent counterfeiting. However, the exact cost of introducing the new legal tender remains unclear.
Rwanda’s banknotes feature inscriptions in both Kinyarwanda and English.
Characteristics of the New Notes
The new Rwf5,000 banknote measures 145 x 72mm and has lilac as its dominant color. The watermark features the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Rwanda on the right side of the note, along with an electrotype representing the letters “BNR” below.
The front side of the note displays a principal design of the Kigali Convention Centre building, with an image of a gorilla that changes color located on the left. The signatures of both the Governor and Deputy Governor of the central bank are placed below the image.
The face value is inscribed horizontally in each corner, except the upper right-hand corner, with the issuance date “28.06.2024” printed at the bottom of the watermark.
On the reverse side, there are two small baskets, one containing a calabash, set inside a traditional Rwandan house. The face value is written horizontally in all corners, among other features.
The Rwf2,000 banknote, sized 142 x 72mm, has a dominant color of clear violet, and features the same watermark of the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Rwanda and the “BNR” electrotype below.
The front of the note depicts the mountains of Lake Kivu, with the face value written horizontally in all corners except the upper right.
On the reverse, the principal design shows roasted coffee beans, among other features.
Both notes include a wide windowed security thread with microtext that reads “BNR” and the face value, which changes color from green to blue depending on the angle of the note. The thread is located on the left side of the banknote.
