The latest assessment places Rwanda ahead of countries with comparable income levels, reflecting notable progress across health, education, and labour market performance.
The country achieved a score of 157 on the HCI+, significantly surpassing the Sub-Saharan Africa average of 126 and the low-income country benchmark of 116.
The HCI+ evaluates how effectively nations are building and utilising human capital by measuring the future productivity of children born today.
It considers access to quality healthcare, education, and employment opportunities, while also accounting for inefficiencies such as underused skills.
Compared to the original index, the HCI+ introduces broader indicators, including higher education attainment, job quality, and transitions within the labour market.
Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Yusuf Murangwa attributed the achievement to Rwanda’s long-standing policy focus.
“Our focus on health, quality education, and creating pathways to productive employment is delivering measurable results for Rwandans and the economy,” he stated.
He further noted that sustainability is being embedded across sectors to secure lasting impact.
Key indicators underline this progress. The probability of surviving to age 60 has reached 79 per cent, exceeding the regional average of 73.8 per cent.
Efforts to combat child stunting have also advanced, with 70.2 per cent of children expected to grow without stunting.
In education, Rwanda posted a harmonised learning score of 417 and a tertiary completion rate of 22.8 per cent.
Meanwhile, employment data shows encouraging trends, particularly among youth and wage earners, pointing to improved access to stable jobs. Overall, the gains reflect steady advancement since 2010, especially in health and workplace learning.
Rwanda has achieved a score of 157 on the HCI+, significantly surpassing the Sub-Saharan Africa average of 126 and the low-income country benchmark of 116 in the latest World Bank human capital index.
Baghaei, speaking on state-run IRIB television, said that recent public statements by Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi were made within the framework of the ceasefire between Iran and the United States announced on April 8, not as signals of a new diplomatic opening.
Earlier Friday, Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz would remain “completely open” to commercial shipping for the duration of the current truce between Iran and the United States.
Baghaei moved to clarify the foreign minister’s position, saying that following a ceasefire in Lebanon on Friday, Tehran chose to apply safe-passage conditions outlined in its agreement with Washington to vessels transiting the strait.
“We have reached no new agreement,” he said. “The ceasefire agreement is the one announced on April 8.”
He accused the United States of failing, from the outset of the truce, to honor a commitment to extend its terms to Lebanon, a provision Iran insists was included in the April 8 agreement. Washington and Jerusalem have rejected that characterization.
Baghaei also warned that Iran would take “countermeasures” if a United States naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz persisted. He said no talks on extending the ceasefire had taken place, and that mediation efforts led by Pakistan remained focused on ending the conflict and protecting Iran’s interests.
Iran tightened its grip on the strait beginning Feb. 28, when it barred safe passage to vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States following joint strikes on Iranian territory.
The United States subsequently imposed its own blockade, preventing ships traveling to and from Iranian ports from transiting the waterway after peace negotiations in Islamabad collapsed over the weekend.
Axios reported Friday, citing people familiar with the talks, that a second round of United States-Iran negotiations is expected to take place in Pakistan this weekend, most likely on Sunday.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei speaks at a weekly press conference in Tehran, Iran, April 6, 2026.
In late March, the relatively unknown Chinese motorcycle maker ZXMOTO clinched back-to-back titles in the World Supersport category at the Portuguese round of the Superbike World Championship, breaking a decades-long monopoly held by established global brands.
Hailed by international media as a testament to China’s manufacturing strength and comprehensive local supply chain, the victory highlights a larger reality: as global economic turbulence intensifies, China’s manufacturing sector is proving its resilience and capacity for high-quality growth.
From big to strong
Having maintained its position as the world’s largest manufacturing hub for 16 consecutive years, China has fortified its key industrial and supply chains to become more resilient, providing strong support for weathering major risks.
The country’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) has made moving faster to boost its strength in manufacturing a central task, calling for maintaining a reasonable share of manufacturing in the economy and building a modern industrial system led by advanced manufacturing.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, during the 2026-2030 period, the country will shore up weak links, strengthen competitive edges and seize early-mover advantages, with the goal of moving from key breakthroughs to all-round advantages.
Xin Yongfei, an expert with the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, noted that China’s manufacturing sector already has the scale and innovation foundation.
During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, he said, maintaining strategic focus and concentrating on crucial areas will allow China to leap from “following” to “running alongside” and even “leading,” laying a solid foundation for basically achieving new industrialization.
Local governments have also rolled out concrete plans: Hunan Province in central China will implement landmark projects for an advanced manufacturing highland, Shanghai in east China aims to build the “Made in Shanghai” brand, and southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality is pushing to become a strong manufacturing city.
Core-reshaping innovation
In Beijing’s Yizhuang District, also known as E-town, humanoid robots can be seen training for a half-marathon. Many of them can now run at speeds of up to six meters per second, rivaling the pace of professional athletes.
This leap mirrors a broader push toward higher-end, smarter and greener manufacturing. The 15th Five-Year Plan outlines a series of concrete steps: improving manufacturing quality, boosting the resilience of industrial and supply chains, and achieving breakthroughs in core technologies.
One telling example is the recent release of China’s domestically developed T1200-grade ultra-high-strength carbon fiber, now the strongest industrially produced carbon fiber in the world.
“Thanks to this technological breakthrough, our domestically produced large aircraft will be lighter, deep-space exploration can go farther, and new energy vehicles will have longer range. It provides a stronger ‘skeleton’ for future industries,” said Chen Qiufei, the R&D lead.
Meanwhile, companies are shifting from selling hardware to offering integrated solutions. DJI, known for its drones, now provides agricultural plant protection solutions, with related service revenue accounting for more than 30 percent of its total.
Similarly, Chinese battery maker Sunwoda has built a six-dimensional maglev production line and a digital twin system to improve its own manufacturing efficiency, and is now exporting smart manufacturing solutions to others.
The results are visible in the data. In the first two months of 2026, the value-added output of high-tech manufacturing enterprises grew 13.1 percent year on year, while that of equipment manufacturing rose 9.3 percent.
The “AI plus manufacturing” initiative has been implemented, with the adoption rate of AI technology among major manufacturing firms exceeding 30 percent. Meanwhile, more than 8,300 green factories have been established nationwide.
More open landscape
At the same time, China’s manufacturing sector is opening up further. In Zhanjiang, south China’s Guangdong Province, German chemicals giant BASF’s massive production complex, known as a Verbund site, has started production, marking the largest single investment project wholly owned by a German enterprise in China.
Thousands of miles away in Tatabanya, Hungary, Chinese heavy machinery manufacturer Zoomlion’s first European smart factory has opened, providing a stable and efficient product supply and better localized services for European customers.
All foreign investment restrictions in the manufacturing sector have been lifted in China. In the first two months of this year, China’s exports of high-tech and high-value-added mechanical and electrical products reached 2.89 trillion yuan (about 418.9 billion U.S. dollars), up 24.3 percent year on year.
As China navigates an increasingly volatile world, its manufacturing sector is actively integrating into global markets, offering vast cooperation opportunities for the world.
This photo taken on April 2, 2026 shows a view inside an aircraft manufacturing workshop of Wanfeng Auto Holding Group in Laixi City, east China’s Shandong Province.
Running from April 13 to 18 in Haikou, capital of China’s island province of Hainan, the annual expo is showcasing premium global products and facilitating cooperation between international brands and local partners.
Despite the diversity of their product categories ranging from health, food and cosmetics to art, exhibitors share a common goal: to expand their presence in China.
As this year’s guest country of honor, Canada has brought its largest-ever delegation, with around 40 companies participating. A highlight among its premium offerings is a wide range of natural, health-boosting products.
Among the companies is Canada Royal Milk (CRM), a powder formula producer based in Ontario. The company is leveraging the expo to capitalize on China’s huge market potential, driven by its large population and consumption upgrading.
Reago Li, the China region general distributor for the Canadian brand, told Xinhua that at this year’s expo, the company is highlighting Capriss, a goat milk powder brand under CRM that targets adult consumers, particularly those aged 45 and above.
According to Li, compared to cow milk, goat milk has smaller fat molecules, making it easier to digest and more friendly for people with lactose intolerance.
Since its debut in the Chinese market in 2023, Capriss has expanded its sales and built a growing presence in local supermarkets and shopping malls. It has also established a sales channel on a popular online pharmacy platform in the country, Li said.
Next to Li’s booth, DPA is displaying seal oil soft capsules, an Omega-3 health supplement. Song Bingbing, the brand’s chief nutritionist, said that five consecutive years of participation in the expo has helped the Canadian brand gain growing market recognition, with its products now sold in over 5,000 retail stores nationwide.
Explaining the Chinese market’s strategic importance, Song said there is a shift in the country from a treatment-centered approach to one centered on chronic disease management, and that the product aligns well with growing health management needs, such as weight management and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health. “With a large population base, the Chinese market is a top priority.”
Li echoed this sentiment, categorizing China’s consumer market as top-tier in both scale and quality. “Indispensable” was his word for the market, expressing the Canadian brand’s confidence in competing for a share in it.
The information provided by the two exhibitors has offered a clear lens into how increasingly important the Chinese market is becoming for global companies. Further evidence of their eagerness to explore this market is inside the hall, where live-streamers are invited to promote premium products to online audiences, and hired staff are hospitably offering samples of delicacies to visitors and inquirers — from butter on biscuits from Ireland, wine from France, to ginseng tea from Canada.
The numbers tell the same story. International exhibits accounted for 65 percent of the total this year, up 20 percentage points from last year, according to expo data. Meanwhile, the number of professional buyers is expected to reach 65,000, a 10-percent rise from the previous edition, said Lu Min, director of the Hainan provincial bureau of international economic development.
While the convergence of global brands demonstrates their continued interest, the market’s diversity, speed and complexity are also prompting them to refine their marketing strategies, pricing and product design in response to rapidly evolving consumer preferences. In a recent commentary, the Macau Post Daily noted that rather than simply a question of scale or growth, the Chinese market is where global companies’ strategies get tested and refined.
Chen Lifen, a researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council, said China’s consumer market is seeing increasingly pronounced trends toward smarter, greener and higher-quality consumption upgrades. Chen noted that the expo has built an efficient and convenient channel for high-quality global consumer goods to enter the domestic market, and injected new momentum into expanding and upgrading consumption while unlocking the potential of China’s mega-market.
Since its launch in 2021, the CICPE has become an important platform for multinationals to stay abreast of consumer trends in China, with over 3,800 enterprises and more than 12,000 brands from 92 countries and regions participating in the past five editions.
People visit the sixth China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province, April 13, 2026.
The State Minister for Infrastructure, Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, made the appeal following a recent increase in petrol prices, emphasizing that public transport fares will remain unchanged since diesel, widely used in public transport, has not increased in price.
On April 16, 2026, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) announced that the price of petrol had risen from Rwf 2,303 to Rwf 2,938 per litre, an increase of Rwf 635. The new prices took effect on the morning of April 17, 2026. Meanwhile, the price of diesel remained unchanged at Rwf 2,205 per litre.
Speaking to Radio Rwanda, Uwihanganye attributed the rise in petrol prices to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, particularly involving Iran, the United States, and Israel—regions that are key sources and transit routes for petroleum products imported into Rwanda.
“We are in an extraordinary situation caused by the war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel in a region that supplies petroleum products. Supply has decreased, pushing prices up by nearly 20%,” he said, noting that global price fluctuations remain unpredictable as the conflict continues.
Despite the increase in petrol prices, the minister stressed that public transport fares will not be revised upward, since diesel prices have remained stable. He explained that this is part of government measures to cushion citizens from the full impact of global fuel price shocks.
“The price of public transport will not change because diesel, which is mainly used in public transport, has not increased,” he said.
Uwihanganye added that the cost of goods is also not expected to rise significantly, as diesel—commonly used in the transportation of goods—has remained stable.
However, he cautioned that price adjustments may continue depending on how the conflict evolves, noting that the government will keep balancing necessary changes with the welfare of citizens.
He explained that the government’s priority is to ensure a steady supply of petroleum products in the country, even as rising global prices require additional financial resources to maintain supply—costs that are partly passed on to consumers.
Sufficient fuel reserves
Addressing concerns about fuel availability, Uwihanganye reassured the public that Rwanda still has adequate reserves of both petrol and diesel.
“There are minimum stock levels that fuel traders are required to maintain, and these are still in place. In addition, the country has strategic reserves that can be used in case of disruptions,” he said.
He noted that Rwanda relies entirely on international markets for petroleum products, meaning supply chains can take time, which makes maintaining reserves essential.
However, he warned that despite the current stability in reserves, Rwanda is not immune to shortages, as seen in some countries affected by the ongoing conflict.
Eng. Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye says public transport fares will remain unchanged.
Call for responsible consumption
In light of the situation, the minister urged citizens to reduce non-essential travel and prioritize public transport such as buses instead of using private cars. He also encouraged households to use petroleum-based energy responsibly.
On the issue of subsidies, Uwihanganye said the government is already providing support, noting that without intervention, fuel prices—especially petrol—would be significantly higher based on international market trends.
“Current prices already reflect government efforts, including subsidies and support to fuel importers. Diesel has remained stable partly due to these measures,” he explained.
He also warned traders against exploiting the situation by unjustifiably increasing the prices of goods, stressing that the rise in petrol prices should not disrupt market stability.
Long-term measures
Looking ahead, Uwihanganye said the government is continuing efforts to secure fuel supply routes and maintain reserves, even as delays in deliveries have started to emerge due to the conflict.
He also encouraged Rwandans to consider adopting electric vehicles as a long-term solution to reduce dependence on petroleum products.
In the meantime, citizens have been advised to expect broader price increases due to the global situation, avoid unnecessary spending, and rely on government measures aimed at protecting livelihoods.
MININFRA has urged private car owners to opt for public buses
According to the Rwanda Vital Statistics Report 2025, released on April 15, 2026, the recorded divorce cases include separations that occurred over the past three years but were officially entered into the system in 2025.
Out of the 4,479 recorded cases, 2,629 divorces were granted through courts of law.
The highest number of divorce cases was recorded in Kigali City, with 1,199 households, followed by the Eastern Province with 1,011 cases. The Southern Province recorded 976 divorces, while the Western Province had 669, and the Northern Province registered 592 cases.
Data further shows that courts granted 1,068 divorces in 2024, up from 782 cases in 2023, indicating a steady increase in legal separations over recent years.
An analysis of the 2025 figures indicates that in 3,936 of the divorced households, both partners remained in the same province after separation, while in 543 cases, each partner relocated to a different province.
Under Rwanda’s law governing persons and family, divorce may be requested on various grounds, including adultery, conviction for a serious offense, failure to provide for the family, physical or psychological abuse, emotional distress, economic abuse, or other behaviors that seriously harm a spouse, a shared child, or either party individually. Couples may also separate when cohabitation becomes intolerable for one or both partners.
Decline in legal marriages
The report also highlights a decline in legally registered marriages. In 2025, a total of 50,256 marriages were recorded, down from 52,878 in 2024.
Men entering marriage were predominantly aged between 25 and 29, while most women were between 21 and 24 years old.
Districts with the highest number of marriages exceeding 2,000, include; Gasabo District, Gicumbi District, Nyarugenge District, Kicukiro District, Musanze District, Muhanga District, Rubavu District, and Nyamasheke District.
On the other hand, districts with fewer than 1,000 registered marriages include Nyanza District, Gisagara District, and Ngoma District.
In 2025, a total of 50,256 marriages were recorded, down from 52,878 in 2024.
In an atmosphere of solemn reflection, his words rang out with striking clarity: “We are gathered to remember. We are gathered not to forget.” From the outset, the tone was unmistakable. This was not merely about commemoration, it was about commitment.
Speaking on behalf of survivors, Murangira César emphasized the symbolic weight of every presence: an act, a stance, a refusal to accept erasure.
Behind the numbers, he reminded the audience, are human lives. More than one million Tutsi were killed during the Genocide against the Tutsi, a tragedy he evoked with force: “One million broken destinies. One million silenced voices. And yet, those silences still speak.”
Memory as a living responsibility
At the heart of his message was a central truth: for survivors, time does not erase, it intensifies absence and reinforces the duty to remember. “We are the voices of the departed,” he stated, underscoring a responsibility that is both heavy and unrelenting.
But remembrance alone, he insisted, is not enough. It must be accompanied by understanding, explanation, and transmission.
Forgetting, he warned, is never neutral. Denial and distortion of history are never harmless, they always lay the groundwork for future atrocities.
In a clear and uncompromising analysis, he stressed that the genocide was neither accidental nor spontaneous. It was conceived, planned, and executed. It was driven by a racist ideology, Hutu Power, whose roots trace back to the colonial era and decades of recurring violence.
One of the most striking moments of his address focused on the role of the international community. “The world knew. And it did not act.” A heavy indictment, pointing to the inaction of major powers and international institutions as Rwanda descended into horror.
Embassies closed. Foreign nationals were evacuated. Diplomatic hesitation prevailed. Meanwhile, thousands were being killed every single day. “This indifference killed. This silence killed,” he stressed.
Murangira also highlighted the decisive role played by the Rwandan Patriotic Front in bringing the genocide to an end.
“We must have the courage to acknowledge it,” he said, noting that this intervention saved lives and ensured the survival of Tutsi in Rwanda.
Today, survivor testimonies remain essential. They challenge, they confront, and they prevent falsehoods from taking root.
Beyond remembrance, such commemorations stand as acts of resistance, against forgetting, against denial, against indifference. They restore dignity and humanity to those the genocide sought to erase.
But they also raise an urgent and universal question: what do we do with this memory?
In a world where hate speech and exclusionary ideologies are re-emerging, Murangira César called for constant vigilance. “We do not have the right to remain bystanders,” he warned.
In Geneva, his message transcended commemoration. It stood as a call to collective conscience: to remember, yes, but above all, to act, so that history never repeats itself.
Ibuka Switzerland president Murangira César has delivered a deeply powerful address at the headquarters of the United Nations.
The incident occurred just days after official commemoration ceremonies, intensifying the sense of indignation.
“Shock and dismay” have been widely expressed in reaction to the damage. Beyond the material destruction, this act represents a serious desecration of a site of remembrance, undermining the dignity of the victims, the respect owed to survivors, and the fundamental principles of truth and justice.
The message of shock was also delivered by Rouen’s Mayor, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, who strongly condemned the act and reaffirmed the city’s support for the Rwandan community. He described the vandalism as unacceptable and confirmed that the city would file a formal complaint to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
In a statement released on April 16, 2026, the Rwandan Community of France (CRF) strongly condemned the act. The organization also raised concerns about a troubling context marked by repeated attacks on memorial sites, as well as the spread of denialist and hateful discourse, particularly online.
The CRF further called on French authorities to address the actions of individuals known for publicly and repeatedly promoting such narratives, urging a firm judicial response commensurate with the gravity of the situation.
The memorial to victims of Genocide against the Tutsu has been vandalized. The memorial serves as a place for remembrance of victims of Genocide against the Tutsi. Col. Karara represented the ambassador at the commemoration eventRouen’s Mayor, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol strongly condemned the act and reaffirmed the city’s support for the Rwandan community.
In exercising its veto on April 7 on the draft resolution submitted by Bahrain on behalf of Gulf states, China upheld international fairness and justice, defended the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and prevented the conflict from expanding further. The veto also created favorable conditions for achieving a temporary ceasefire and launching dialogue and negotiations, said Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations.
“China’s vote represents a choice responsible for peace and for the people of the region. It stands on the right side of history and will stand the test of history,” he told a UN General Assembly meeting on the use of veto in the Security Council.
China attached great importance to the draft resolution and fully understood the Gulf states’ major concerns. At the same time, Security Council actions should be aimed at de-escalation. They must not provide a veneer of legitimacy for unauthorized military operations or authorize the use of force, let alone further exacerbate tensions and add fuel to the fire, thereby leading to an escalation of the conflict, said Fu.
“China does not go along with Iran’s attacks on Gulf states. China believes that the passage and safety of a strait used for international navigation should be safeguarded. We call on Iran to take proactive measures to restore normal navigation in the Strait of Hormuz at an early date,” said Fu.
“Meanwhile, the ramped-up military deployment and targeted blockade by the United States constitute a dangerous and irresponsible move. The issue of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is a spillover effect of the conflict in Iran. Only a complete ceasefire can fundamentally create conditions for easing the situation,” he said.
China welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire agreement by the relevant parties and supports all efforts conducive to ending the conflict. The U.S.-Iran negotiations in Pakistan mark a step in the right direction toward de-escalation, Fu said.
“The relevant parties should adhere to the ceasefire agreement, stick to the direction of dialogue and peace talks, stay committed to resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means, and take concrete actions to de-escalate regional tensions,” he said.
The international community, he said, should continue to intensify efforts to promote peace talks and unequivocally oppose any actions that undermine the ceasefire or escalate confrontation.
All parties should also earnestly respect Lebanon’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and prevent the escalation of the situation in Lebanon from undermining the ceasefire arrangement, Fu said.
As a sincere friend and strategic partner of countries in the Middle East, China is closely following the regional situation, maintaining an objective and impartial position, and has been engaged in intensive mediation with all parties to actively promote peace talks, he said.
China stands ready to continue facilitating de-escalation, promoting the improvement of relations between regional countries, and playing a constructive role in ultimately achieving enduring peace and stability in the Middle East, he said.
China has called on Iran to take proactive measures to restore normal navigation in the Strait of Hormuz at an early date.
The ceremony took place at Kintele Stadium in the northern suburbs of Brazzaville, the capital city, in the presence of several African heads of state.
In his inaugural address, Sassou Nguesso pledged to implement his development programme, titled “Accelerating the March Toward Development,” with a focus on economic diversification and modernization, agricultural mechanization, infrastructure development, education, youth training, and improvements to the health system.
He said peace, stability and infrastructure development would be the priorities of his new mandate.
The president also called on Congolese citizens to promote Pan-Africanism and strengthen regional integration, while reaffirming his support for initiatives aimed at advancing Africa’s economic development.
President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso takes the oath of office during his inauguration ceremony at Kintele Stadium in the northern suburbs of Brazzaville, the Republic of the Congo, April 16, 2026.
