Author: Sam K. Nkurunziza

Prof. Dr. Wang highlighted Rwanda’s strong leadership, strategic planning, and consistent investment in infrastructure and technology as key drivers of its progress.

He noted that Rwanda’s ability to implement long-term national goals with discipline and vision offers valuable lessons for other developing nations.

Speaking during a public lecture in Beijing, Prof. Dr. Wang described Rwanda as a “good student of modernization,” applauding the country’s steady progress in transforming its economy and governance.

“I mean China was also a student of the West in modernization, right? Because they achieved a lot before. So in this regard, I call her (Rwanda) a student. But China learned from the West, and learned too much, maybe,” he explained.

“So what I’m saying is that Rwanda is a good student among African countries. In recent years, it has achieved economic prosperity, I think it goes beyond the Western model,” he added.

Recently, The International Monetary Fund (IMF) praised Rwanda’s economic performance and resilience, following the conclusion of a two-week mission assessing the country’s reform progress under the fifth review of the Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI).

Rwanda recorded an impressive GDP growth rate of 8.9% in 2024, making it one of the fastest-growing economies in sub-Saharan Africa.

The growth was fueled by strong performances in agriculture, construction, trade, tourism, transport, and telecommunications sectors. Labour market indicators also improved, with increased participation and a reduction in the unemployment rate.

Inflation remained stable at 4.8% by the end of 2024, within the National Bank of Rwanda’s target range. Thanks to improved food production and effective monetary policy.

Prof. Dr. Wang attributed Rwanda’s development success to “consistent national policies, strong government leadership, and effective cooperation with China.”

He emphasized that for Africa and other countries in the Global South to reach their development goals, they must draw lessons from China’s modernization path, a journey largely driven by firm and visionary government leadership.

“The government owns the land, the resources, everything. It shouldn’t just provide services to the market, but also create the market for modernization. The Western model tells governments to do less and let the market decide. But in poor countries, the market is weak and limited.”

“Like I mentioned, you need to build a swimming pool to train the babies how to swim. Only then can they gradually move to the sea. If you put a baby straight into the sea, they will drown,” Wang said.

According to him, governments needs to build that swimming pool by training the people, training the market, and creating the conditions for development, like building high-speed railways and highways. That’s what strong governments do, and it’s crucial for modernization, especially in developing countries.

Over the past three decades, Rwanda has transformed from one of the continent’s weakest economies to becoming Africa’s fastest-growing, with significant investments in digital innovation, healthcare, education, and urban development.

The government has played a central role in this transformation, actively shaping the economy by building markets through initiatives like smart city development, public-private partnerships, and strategic international cooperation, especially with countries like China.

This center, hosted by the University of Rwanda (UR) Regional Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Engineering and eHealth in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, marks a transformative step in the country’s efforts to standardize data-driven healthcare.

Following South Africa, Rwanda now becomes the second African country to host such a center, signaling a shift in the balance of global health data leadership toward the region.

The designation was communicated by the Acting WHO Regional Director, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, effective from 12 March 2025 for a period of 4-year period up to 12 March 2029.

This positions Rwanda as a key player in the development, implementation and global advocacy for WHO international health classifications, namely the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI) and the International Classification of Functioning and Disability (ICF).

The center will play a strategic role in strengthening Africa’s health data infrastructure through training, policy development, and research cooperation.

Speaking at the launch, Ihekweazu emphasized the center’s importance to the region. “A first for Rwanda, and only the second on the continent, this proud milestone signals Africa’s growing capacity for leadership in health information systems. Congratulations to UR’s Regional Centre of Excellence in Biomedical Engineering and eHealth upon this designation,” he said.

Ihekweazu stressed the urgent need for countries to shift from development to implementation of global health classification tools.

“Good data, whether for better mortality statistics or smarter resource allocation, makes all the difference. COVID-19 exposed the weaknesses in our systems, but today, we are witnessing progress. Every country now has mechanisms to generate more reliable health and mortality data,” he remarked.

He also encouraged wider adoption of tools like the WHO Digital Open Rule Integrated Cause of Death Selection (DORIS) software and the new online training for medical certification of cause of death. These, he said, are crucial to closing persistent gaps in data accuracy across the continent.

Dr. Muhammed Semakula, Ministry of Health Head of the Department of Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Health Financing, representing Minister of Health, lauded the center as a reflection of Rwanda’s progress in digital health.

“This recognition signifies our country’s commitment to evidence-based policymaking, robust disease surveillance, and efficient resource allocation,” he said.

Semakula revealed that Rwanda has already embedded ICD-11 across its health systems, with 97% of citizens enrolled in health insurance schemes, thus not only improving the accuracy of diagnoses and reimbursements but also enhancing the quality and timeliness of healthcare services.

According to him, implementing a unified classification system will address discrepancies between healthcare facilities and insurance systems, reducing inefficiencies and complaints.

The WHO Country Representative for Rwanda, Dr. Brian Chirombo, applauded the collaborative efforts that led to the establishment of the new center. “I would like to congratulate University of Rwanda and the Ministry of Health for this tremendous achievement,” he said.

Chirombo emphasized that health classifications are more than just technical tools. They are the language through which experts understand and communicate the complexities of health and disease. “They allow us to track disease outbreaks, develop public health policies, and evaluate their impact,” he noted.

He further reported that between 2018 and 2024, in collaboration with WHO, the University of Rwanda and the Ministry of Health designed of a short course curriculum on medical coding offered at the University of Rwanda.

Health professionals in medical coding and certification of causes of death were trained, field tested ICD-11 through electronic medical records (EMR) in two hospitals, and embedded the ICD-11 in the OpenMRS and eBuzima platform, an EMR which the country is deploying in health centers.

These initiatives not only improved national systems but also contributed to global knowledge and experience sharing through WHO-FIC meetings.

Central to the development of the Regional Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Engineering and eHealth is Dr. Michael Mugisha, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Rwanda and co-founder of the WHO Collaborating centre. Proudly reflecting on the achievement, he expressed gratitude for this milestone.

Mugisha explained that ICD-11 is not only a tool for documenting diseases but also for capturing health interventions, enabling data-driven planning, resource allocation, and research.

“Now, with structured and uniform data across hospitals, from health posts to referral hospitals, we can aggregate and analyze information to inform policy and guide decisions. We can answer questions like how many cesarean sections were performed last month, or which districts are seeing certain disease trends,” he said.

Crucially, he added, the center will act as Rwanda’s voice on the global stage. “With a WHO Collaborating Center, we now have the platform to reflect Rwanda’s unique health context in international classification standards. We will be contributing to revisions, ensuring that African-specific conditions and realities are recognized globally,” he said.

Mugisha highlighted the value of local expertise. “We have very talented scientists, clinicians, and researchers in Rwanda. We are mobilizing them to contribute to the global cause of improving how diseases and interventions are documented and understood worldwide,” he noted.

As Rwanda steps into this leadership role, this WHO Collaborating Centre is not only a symbol of national progress but also a regional beacon, demonstrating what is possible when technology, data, and public health vision align.

He shared his reflections during the 31st commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, held on April 7, 2025, by Rwandans and friends of Rwanda in the United States.

Wilkens highlighted Rwanda’s extraordinary efforts to seek its own solutions for justice and healing, pointing to community-based initiatives like Gacaca courts that were instrumental in fostering reconciliation in a deeply divided society.

“Gacaca and other conflict resolution methods focused on understanding the consequences of what happened and its impact, so that citizens could collectively engage in the healing process. It was not about revenge or retribution,” he said.

Wilkens emphasized the accountability shown by many Rwandans and how it demonstrated a national resolve to transform.

At the event, Troy Fitrell, representing the U.S. State Department, expressed his country’s commitment to supporting Rwanda’s pursuit of justice and warned against the dangers of genocide denial and hate speech.

“We reject any and all efforts to distort history for political gain. Specifically, we fully denounce any attempts to deny or downplay the Genocide against the Tutsi,” he stated.

He called on those who spread hateful rhetoric to redirect their efforts toward promoting peace rather than sowing division and inciting violence.

Immaculée Ilibagiza, a survivor of the genocide, gave a personal testimony and emphasized the importance of forgiveness.

“Since surviving the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, I’ve made it my mission to remind people that hatred is dangerous. I am living proof that where love is absent, people will torture and kill their neighbors. That’s where discrimination begins,” she said.

Nicole Karekezi, President of IBUKA-USA, stressed the importance of using the correct terminology when referring to the genocide.

“It is the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, as recognized by the United Nations. It’s not ‘violence in Africa,’ nor ‘ethnic conflict,’ and certainly not ‘genocide against Tutsi, Hutu, and Twa.’ Such mislabeling distorts the truth and reopens our wounds,” she asserted.

Rwanda’s Ambassador to the U.S., Mathilde Mukantabana, noted that remembering the genocide againt the Tutsi is a responsibility for all humanity, not just survivors.

Meanwhile, U.S. Congressman Tim Welberg commended Rwanda’s development as a symbol of hope, forgiveness, and resilience.

Commemoration activities for the 31st anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi will continue in various U.S. cities, organized in collaboration between Rwandan communities and friends of Rwanda.

Dated April 8, 2025, the letter follows the Rwandan government’s decision to sever diplomatic and cooperative ties with Belgium, citing the country’s continued promotion of propaganda intended to isolate Rwanda from its partners.

The decision also references a directive issued on March 27, 2025, by the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), which prohibits both local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), particularly those rooted in faith or public interest, from engaging in any cooperation with the Belgian government or its affiliated institutions.

“We advise you to begin preparing all necessary arrangements to transition to a different educational system for the 2025–2026 academic year,” the letter reads in part.

The ministry assured the school of its continued support throughout the transition process as it detaches from the Belgian educational model.

École Belge de Kigali has operated in Rwanda since 1965. In 2018, the school moved from Kiyovu in central Kigali to Gisozi Sector, Gasabo District, in line with Kigali’s master urban plan.

In the 2022/2023 academic year, the school had more than 500 students and 45 teachers. The École Belge network also operates in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Morocco.

The March 27 announcement from RGB further emphasized that no financial aid, donations, support, or funding from the Belgian government or its affiliated institutions would be permitted in Rwanda.

This includes budgetary support, project funding, technical assistance, and indirect financial contributions channeled through partner organizations. The governance agency warned that any entity violating these directives would face serious consequences.

Among the penalties outlined are suspension or revocation of operational permits, in accordance with laws governing NGOs, religious organizations, and other institutions. Additional administrative actions could be taken against any organization found to be in breach of these new regulations.

Kabila confirmed the decision to Jeune Afrique on April 8, 2025, stating. “After six years of complete retreat, one year in exile, and in light of the escalating security crisis, I have decided to return to the DRC without delay, in order to play a role in seeking a solution,” he said

He specified that he would return via the country’s eastern region because “there are dangers at home.” However, he did not clarify whether he would pass through Katanga or areas currently controlled by the AFC/M23 coalition.

Kabila explained that his decision to return came after consultations with several heads of state, former presidents, political actors in the country, and international organizations. This announcement comes after a period marked by signs of Kabila reemerging into the political scene and regaining media attention.

In December 2024, he met with opposition leaders Moïse Katumbi and Claudel Lubaya in Addis Ababa. In February 2025, he broke a six-year silence by publishing an article in the Sunday Times, focusing specifically on the security and governance crises plaguing his country.

Kabila has frequently voiced criticism of his successor, Félix Tshisekedi, accusing him of being the root cause of the country’s current troubles. He had not returned to the DRC since December 2023, when he discreetly left the country, avoiding the general elections.

He resurfaced in January 2024 in South Africa, where he had enrolled in a postgraduate program at the University of Johannesburg. Since then, he has also been seen in neighboring countries like Namibia and Zimbabwe.

In March 2025, Kabila announced he had been forced to suspend his studies due to the worsening security situation in eastern DRC.

“I had to put my studies on hold two or three months ago in order to make time for what’s happening back home,” he told a Namibian media outlet.

Meanwhile, the DRC’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, recently stated that the Congolese government does not require Joseph Kabila’s involvement in resolving the security crisis in the eastern part of the country.

In a narrow 5-4 decision issued Monday, the justices ruled that the Trump administration can resume deportations under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act (AEA), a law previously invoked only during declared wars.

The ruling also clarified that migrants targeted under the act must be allowed an opportunity to challenge their removal in court.

“The notice must be afforded within a reasonable time and in such a manner as will allow them to actually seek habeas relief in the proper venue before such removal occurs,” the justices wrote in an unsigned opinion.

The Court determined the legal challenge filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf of five Venezuelan migrants was improperly brought in Washington, D.C., rather than Texas, where the migrants are being held.

The case centers on a controversial March 15 deportation of planeloads of Venezuelan men to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, which Trump justified under the AEA.

The administration argued the deportees were members of Tren de Aragua, a transnational gang Trump labeled a foreign terrorist organization. The group has been linked to sex trafficking, drug smuggling, and violent crimes in both Latin America and US cities.

Trump celebrated the decision on his Truth Social platform, calling it a “great day for justice in America!”
“The supreme court has upheld the rule of law in our nation by allowing a President, whoever that may be, to be able to secure our Borders, and protect our families and our Country, itself,” he wrote.

While the administration claimed the migrants were “carefully vetted” and verified as gang members, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acknowledged that many had no criminal records.

Some families say their loved ones were wrongly deported based on tattoos or mistaken identity. Civil rights groups were divided in their reaction. The ACLU called the ruling both a disappointment and a partial victory.

“We are disappointed that we will need to start the court process over again in a different venue. But the critical point is that the Supreme Court said individuals must be given due process to challenge their removal under the Alien Enemies Act,” said Lee Gelernt, lead attorney for the ACLU.

Conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the Court’s three liberal justices in dissent, warning that the administration’s approach posed “an extraordinary threat to the rule of law.”

The lower court’s block was initially imposed by district judge James Boasberg, who found the government’s justification for using the law inadequate. His injunction was upheld by a federal appeals court before being overturned by the supreme court.

Boasberg had blasted the administration’s response to his order as “woefully insufficient,” noting that deportations had already begun when his ruling was issued. At least 137 people have been deported under the AEA so far.

Critics argue that Trump’s use of the AEA sets a dangerous precedent. The law, passed in 1798 during tensions with France, grants the president sweeping authority to detain or deport citizens of an enemy nation.

Until now, it had only been used during officially declared wars, none of which the US currently has. Legal experts and human rights organizations warn that invoking such powers in peacetime, without congressional war authorization, could erode long standing constitutional protections.

“Today, France extends its deepest thoughts and support to the Rwandan people. France honors the remarkable resilience of the Rwandan people, who have risen and built a future based on reconciliation and unity,” Macron stated, acknowledging the strength of Rwanda’s recovery.

Macron also reaffirmed his commitment to preserving the memory of the genocide, especially in the face of growing revisionism and intolerance.

“On this day of remembrance, I reaffirm my commitment to keeping the memory of this tragic event alive, in the face of the challenges posed by revisionism and intolerance,” he said.

Macron further stated that the harrowing testimonies of survivors serve as a reminder of the urgent need to combat all forms of hatred.

Since 2019, April 7 has been officially recognized in France as a national day of commemoration for the Genocide against the Tutsi. This day reflects the desire to pass on the lessons of this painful chapter in history to future generations through education, historical research, and justice.

In line with France’s commitment to justice, Macron assured that the country’s legal system continues to pursue genocide perpetrators who reside in France.

“In line with my commitment, justice continues to move forward to prosecute and try the alleged perpetrators of the genocide who reside in France. Several major trials have taken place and justice has been served,” he affirmed.

The French judicial system has prosecuted several individuals involved in the genocide, and many have been convicted.

Among the notable cases are the trials of Capt. Pascal Simbikangwa, Laurent Bucyibaruta (former Prefect of Gikongoro), Dr. Eugène Rwamucyo, Dr. Sosthène Munyemana, Philippe Hategekimana, Octavien Ngenzi, and Tito Barahira, all of whom were found guilty and sentenced to various prison terms.

In 2020, France also made headlines with the arrest of Félicien Kabuga, a key financier of the genocide. Kabuga was arrested and handed over to the United Nations court for prosecution.

France’s efforts to ensure justice extend beyond the direct perpetrators. In 2024, Charles Onana, a French national of Cameroonian descent, was convicted for genocide denial. He was fined €8,400 and ordered to pay €11,000 in damages.

Macron also shared that the French prosecution service is continuing to pursue 40 cases of individuals suspected of involvement in the Genocide against the Tutsi. “These efforts reflect our country’s unwavering determination to fight impunity and forgetfulness,” he said.

French courts continue to handle genocide-related cases, with an average of two such cases being processed each year, further demonstrating France’s commitment to justice for the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Speaking on April 7, 2025, as Rwandans living in China gathered to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi, Kimonyo noted striking parallels, warning that history appears to be repeating itself.

The event, held at the Rwandan Embassy in Beijing, brought together members of the Rwandan community, friends of Rwanda, diplomats, and other invited guests.

Kimonyo expressed concern that the international community has not drawn enough lessons from past atrocities. “I feel like with a lot of confidence, I can state without fear of contradiction, that we seem not to have learnt enough lessons,” he noted.

“What is happening in our neighborhood in the eastern DRC, is the mirror image of what happened in Rwanda during the times that led up to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi,” he added.

Ambassador Kimonyo noted that after the Genocide against the Tutsi was stopped, the perpetrators fled to various neighboring countries, including Uganda and Tanzania, where strict measures were enforced to prevent the entry of individuals with weapons.

In contrast, he pointed out, the DRC (then Zaire) willingly welcomed the genocidaires, allowing them to settle with their arms, which later contributed to the ongoing instability in the region.

“DRC allowed the soldiers, the militias, intact in their command formation, and crossed over with the same ideology and enough logistics to carry out similar killings in Rwanda and whoever they thought was a Tutsi,” he explained.

From then, he said, they regrouped and started causing havoc in eastern Congo as well as mobilized the populations to begin the ethnic killings in DRC beginning with the Tutsi found in Congo.

Last year, Alice Nderitu, who was the United Nations Secretary General Special Representative of Genocide, described the situation in Eastern DRC as a warning sign of a threat of fragility and proof of the enduring presence of the conditions that allow large-scale hunting and violence.

She reminded the United Nations, that the presence of these militias is a recipe for another genocide.

Kimonyo criticized the international community for failing to uphold its responsibilities in the region. He pointed out that despite the presence of over 17,000 peacekeeping troops representing various international actors in the region, little action has been taken to address the ongoing crisis.

“And if indeed we have learnt any lessons, why would we allow, 31 years later, people being condemned to death because they are Tutsi or Tutsi affiliated? And unfortunately, the genocide against the Tutsi being distorted to fit into biased narratives?” he wondered.

He noted that the continued dismissal of the situation in eastern DRC and making it look like a conventional scramble for resources, is distorted, and only serves those who benefit from chaos.

The commemoration featured a testimony from Dimitri Sissi, a survivor of the Genocide against the Tutsi, who shared her personal story of survival. The event also included performances of remembrance songs and a poem reflecting on Rwanda’s history, the resilience of its people, and the path forward.