The Eastern Province reported the highest number of deaths at 9,358, followed by the Southern Province (8,289) and the Western Province (7,543). The Northern Province recorded 6,404 deaths, while Kigali City had the fewest at 4,048.
Men accounted for a larger share of deaths (19,843) than women (16,178), with a sex ratio at death of 122.7.
Over half of the deaths (54.1%) occurred in communities, with Gicumbi District leading at 915 cases. In contrast, 45.9% took place in health facilities, with Gasabo District recording the highest hospital-based deaths at 1,139.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)—including cancer, diabetes, stroke, and heart conditions—were the leading cause of death, comprising 47.7% of defined cases.
Communicable diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, followed closely at 42.9%, while injuries and external causes, like road accidents and domestic violence, accounted for 9.4%.
In community settings, unspecified cardiac diseases caused 1,822 deaths, with acute cardiac conditions and digestive cancers also significant.
Meanwhile, Rwanda registered 417,972 live births in 2024, up from 373,260 in 2023. Gasabo District led with 24,641 births, followed by Nyagatare (18,521), Rubavu (15,976), and Bugesera (15,799). Nyabihu, Ngororero, and Nyamagabe recorded the fewest births.
Birth registration saw remarkable improvement, with 99.1% of births registered on time and a completeness rate of 90.3%, nearing the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of 100%. These gains reflect Rwanda’s commitment to strengthening its civil registration systems.
The public lecture, held as part of the ongoing 100 days of remembrance, was attended by institutional leaders, senior police officers, and other officials. Participants were taken through the genesis, planning, and execution of the Genocide against the Tutsi, as well as current strategies to counter the persistent ideology behind it.
Dr Bizimana outlined how colonial rule laid the foundation for ethnic divisionism in Rwanda. He explained that identity-based segregation, introduced by colonial administrators and reinforced by missionaries, paved the way for decades of discrimination and, eventually, the Genocide against the Tutsis.
“The genocide was not a spontaneous act—it was a long-planned political project,” Dr. Bizimana said. “Colonial structures and post-independence politicians fueled and institutionalized ethnic hatred supported by different media outlets, political parties, and the army [Ex-FAR]. This incited citizens to turn against their fellow Rwandans.”
The minister narrated the escalation of anti-Tutsi violence since 1959, through waves of persecutions and exiles, to the extermination campaign between 1990 and 1994. Dr. Bizimana further highlighted the critical role of propaganda and state institutions in spreading hate speech and justifying mass killings.
To combat genocide ideology today, he emphasized on Rwanda’s holistic approach through education and other sectors by educating youth through school curricula, promoting national identity through the “Ndi Umunyarwanda” program, engaging communities through Itorero and dialogues, and preserving memory of the victims through visits to genocide memorials. There has also been legal accountability on the perpetrators, reintegration of former convicts into society, and digital strategies to counter online hate.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), CG Felix Namuhoranye, commended the Minister for his in-depth presentation and called for the extension of such programs to police academies, stating that every officer should be grounded in this history, since it shapes the institutional commitment to unity and justice.
The attack hit the village of Sukharevo, where the New Jerusalem church complex, a significant local landmark, was set ablaze after Ukrainian drones dropped explosives, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported Thursday on his Telegram channel.
No injuries were reported in the aftermath.
The New Jerusalem church complex, an entirely wooden construction, is a major monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church.
According to a statement from the U.S. State Department, Secretary Rubio will oversee the signing of a “declaration of principles” on Friday, alongside DRC Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner and Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe.
A declaration of principles is defined as a formal document that outlines the shared values, intentions, and commitments of parties entering into a diplomatic or peace process.
While not always legally binding, it serves as a foundational framework for future negotiations or agreements.
The State Department has yet to release further details about the content of the agreement.
Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe confirmed to IGIHE that a signing is indeed scheduled, but did not disclose specific terms of the agreement.
In an insightful interview with IGIHE, Dr. Eldirdiri Osman Ali, a medical expert from Baho International Hospital, shared valuable knowledge about the types, causes, symptoms, and management of diabetes.
The diabetologist’s expertise sheds light on how early recognition and lifestyle changes can make a significant difference in combating this pervasive disease.
Dr. Ali began by distinguishing between the two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 2 diabetes, he noted, accounts for approximately 90% of cases worldwide, making it the predominant form.
This condition arises when the body either fails to produce sufficient insulin—a hormone essential for transporting sugar into cells—or becomes insensitive to insulin, impairing sugar metabolism.
The result is a cascade of health issues that can affect nearly every organ in the body, from the heart and kidneys to the eyes, feet, and nervous system. Beyond physical complications, diabetes can also take a toll on mental health and interpersonal relationships, underscoring its far-reaching consequences.
The causes of diabetes, as Dr. Ali explained, are multifaceted, with lifestyle playing a central role. Obesity, lack of physical activity, and a sedentary lifestyle are major contributors, particularly when coupled with excessive abdominal fat, which triggers inflammation throughout the body. Hereditary factors also increase susceptibility, meaning individuals with a family history of diabetes are at higher risk.
Other risk factors include gestational diabetes during pregnancy, certain ovarian conditions, and the use of medications like steroids, which can induce the condition. Dr. Ali emphasized that these factors, while diverse, often converge on one key issue: lifestyle choices.
Recognizing diabetes early is crucial to preventing its severe complications, which include heart attacks, kidney failure, blindness, non-healing wounds, and neurological issues.
Dr. Ali highlighted common symptoms that should prompt a visit to the doctor: excessive thirst, frequent urination (especially at night), blurred vision, slow-healing wounds, and persistent fatigue.
Alarmingly, some individuals remain unaware of their condition until a major complication, such as a heart attack, reveals it.
“If you delay diabetes for five years without knowing, that’s when complications arise,” Dr. Ali warned, stressing that while early-stage diabetes is manageable, reversing complications is far more challenging.
Prevention and management, according to Dr. Ali, hinge on proactive lifestyle changes. He advocated for at least 30 minutes of brisk walking five times a week, describing it as a simple, cost-effective way to reduce risk.
Dietary adjustments are equally important: avoiding sugary foods, white bread, rice, and fizzy drinks while prioritizing vegetables, beans, and lean meats can significantly improve health outcomes.
Smoking cessation and minimal alcohol consumption further support prevention efforts. For those already diagnosed, controlling blood sugar through regular testing, adherence to prescribed medications, and exercise is paramount.
Dr. Ali underscored the importance of exercise, noting that it constitutes “50% of the treatment” for diabetes, complementing the effects of medications.
Treatment approaches vary depending on the severity of the condition. Initial management often involves Metformin, a tablet taken once or twice daily, with additional drugs introduced if blood sugar levels remain high.
In advanced cases, where the pancreas no longer produces insulin, injections become necessary. Dr. Ali emphasized the role of regular check-ups and tests like glycated hemoglobin, which provide a three-month snapshot of blood sugar control, guiding treatment decisions.
Held under the theme “Strengthening Regional Law Enforcement Cooperation to Counter Terrorism, Transnational, Organized, and Emerging Crimes,” the meeting has brought together top law enforcement officials from the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO), representing 14 member states.
In his remarks, IGP Namuhoranye described the gathering as an important platform for reinforcing joint strategies to address the region’s crime threats and those beyond its borders.
“There is no silver bullet that can replace trust and mutual understanding among ourselves. That is why partnership remains our major strength and our priority,” he said.
“I urge all of us to open real-time communication channels and remove any barriers—small or big—that disrupt collaboration and information sharing,” he added, stressing the importance of putting strategies into action to build a safer region.
IGP Namuhoranye also challenged participants to identify key areas needing intervention or improvement, based on a review of progress made on previous decisions and recommendations.
Speaking on the significance of the event, Africa Apollo Sendahangarwa, Chief Executive Officer of EAPCCO and Head of the Interpol Regional Bureau, said the meeting was timely in orienting actions based on resolutions from recent Annual General Meetings, including those of the Chiefs of Police Council.
“The focus will include assessing crime trends, the modus operandi of criminals, and recommending more effective ways to tackle crime—not only within individual member countries, but also as a unified region,” noted the EAPCCO CEO.
On the first day of the meeting, members of EAPCCO witnessed the handover of the chairmanship of the Permanent Coordinating Committee (PCC) from Col. Aimable Mutagatifu, Director of Criminal Investigation in the Burundi National Police, to Jean Marie Twagirayezu, Director General of Criminal Investigation at the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB).
Cardinal Ambongo made these remarks in a powerful Easter message. While acknowledging external pressures, he stressed that internal failures, driven by Congolese irresponsibility, are the root of the nation’s troubles, and called for unity to heal a fractured country.
“The primary cause of our misfortune, lack of peace in our country, is not the people from outside, it is not the foreigners, it is not Rwanda, it is us, the Congolese,” he stated.
Cardinal Ambongo further emphasized this internal failure, stating, “Our irresponsibility has made it so that we pose actions today that do not allow the blossoming of peace in our country.”
These statements challenge the Congolese government’s narrative that Rwanda allegedly fuels eastern DRC conflicts through M23 rebel support, pointing instead to the Congolese elite’s disunity and greed as the true drivers of the nation’s misfortune.
Ambongo criticized leaders for pursuing power and wealth while eastern regions suffer occupation. This selfish behavior, he argued, fosters despair, driving some Congolese to join rebellions due to frustration with exclusion.
He called for a unified effort to rebuild national cohesion and tackle both internal divisions and external threats.
Cardinal Ambongo also highlighted global corporations exploiting the DRC’s vast minerals, forests, and waters, which deepens the country’s vulnerability.
Internally, Ambongo flagged systemic issues fueling unrest. A corrupt justice system permits land and property theft, stirring public resentment. In Kinshasa, foreign traders dominate commerce, leaving Congolese feeling marginalized in their own homeland. Cardinal Ambongo warned that these grievances could ignite further chaos if ignored.
The High Commission, located in Islamabad, the capital of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, was inaugurated on April 22, 2025, during an official ceremony led by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, as part of his three-day visit to Pakistan.
The event brought together senior government officials, diplomats, media representatives, and private sector leaders.
Initially opened in 2024, the diplomatic mission is part of Rwanda’s expanding global network, which now includes 49 diplomatic missions across five continents.
The new High Commission is expected to play a pivotal role in enhancing political cooperation, trade, and investment between the two nations.
Speaking at an earlier joint press conference with his Pakistani counterpart, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister Nduhungirehe reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation for the benefit of both peoples.
He also emphasized Rwanda’s openness to Pakistani investment and encouraged the business community in Pakistan to explore opportunities in Rwanda.
The visit is part of a series of high-level exchanges between both countries. Minister Nduhungirehe, affirmed Rwanda’s commitment to maintaining this momentum and expressed optimism about increasing trade volumes, which currently stand at around US$26 million.
On his part, Dar emphasized Pakistan’s readiness to collaborate with Rwanda in developing digital ecosystems, highlighting opportunities for joint ventures and knowledge exchange.
This inauguration follows Pakistan’s earlier decision to open its own High Commission in Kigali in 2021, further solidifying diplomatic engagement between the two nations.
Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Fatou Harerimana, formally presented her credentials to President Asif Ali Zardari on July 15, 2024.
Trade between the two countries continues to grow, with Pakistan ranking among the top importers of Rwandan tea, coffee, avocados, and other agricultural products.
Conversely, Rwanda imports medical supplies, rice, textiles, agricultural machinery, and industrial equipment from Pakistan.
The event took place on April 22, 2025, beginning with a historical briefing on the roots of the Genocide against the Tutsi, which claimed over a million lives simply because of their identity.
Following the briefing, the GTBank Rwanda team laid wreaths at the mass graves where more than 250,000 victims are buried, paying tribute to those whose dignity and lives were brutally taken.
Alphonse Munyentwali, Country Director of Aegis Trust Rwanda, highlighted that remembering the Genocide is an ongoing journey. He emphasized that since the majority of today’s Rwandans are youth, it’s essential for them to understand this history thoroughly to ensure such atrocities never happen again.
He also explained that despite Rwanda’s independence, colonial powers continued to influence its governance, which fostered the divisions that eventually led to genocide.
“We suffered greatly, but we are also fortunate because the Genocide against the Tutsi was not stopped by foreigners. Rwandan heroes stopped it. We stopped it ourselves, and we have the strength to prevent it from happening again. That is a great privilege, and it was largely done by the youth. Today, others look up to us,” Munyentwali said.
Sandrine Isheja, an employee at GTBank Rwanda’s Gisozi branch, shared her personal story, recounting how she was a child during the 1994 Genocide but still vividly remembers the difficult path she took to survive. Many of her relatives and fellow refugees now rest at the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
She expressed deep gratitude to the Rwandan Patriotic Army for saving lives, including her own, and for restoring hope in life.
GTBank Rwanda’s Managing Director, Emmanuel Ejizu, spoke about how ethnic divisions introduced by Western colonialists were for their own benefit. He emphasized that unity is now the most powerful tool in countering such divisions and continuing the country’s journey of rebuilding.
“We must not be overwhelmed by sorrow. We need to hold onto hope and strive for a Rwanda that is united,” he said. “This commitment to unity should not only be during commemoration periods—it must be constant, even for Rwandans in the diaspora. Do not tolerate division or those who spread hate or seek to turn people against each other.”
Ejizu concluded by noting that the Genocide against the Tutsi was a deliberately orchestrated campaign, built on years of cultivated hatred. Therefore, if today people come together with good intentions, the meaning behind the phrase ‘Never Again’ can be fully realized.
The RNP Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Boniface Rutikanga, said that as Police officers, donating blood is at the same time in line with the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between RNP and RBC and part of the force’s human security programme to promote the health of people it serves.
He said : “Donating blood by Police officers is part of the existing memorandum between RNP and RBC to contribute to the National blood bank. It is a periodic and voluntary action which also falls within the force’s initiative to support the human security programme in separate aspects of security and development including health because people cannot feel safe when they are not healthy.”
Dr. Andre Munyemana, from the RBC Blood Transfusion Division, in charge of donor selection, expressed gratitude to the Rwanda National Police for the ongoing partnership in the promotion of blood donation campaign.
He emphasized on the importance of the life-saving commitment exhibited by Police officers who donated blood.
“Donating blood is saving life of someone in need of blood. A person in need of blood has no other alternative. If he is not helped on time, he may lose life,” he added.
Dr. Munyemana urged the public to take blood donation as everyone’s responsibility and a reciprocal action because anyone or one of his/her relatives may also need it.
