The meeting was confirmed by the Office of the President, which reported that discussions focused on expanding ServiceNow’s AI-powered digital workflow solutions in Rwanda.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) at BK Arena, where both Kagame and Camara attended the matchup between APR BBC and MBB South Africa, part of the ongoing Nile Conference in Kigali.
ServiceNow, a global leader in digital workflow solutions, has been steadily growing its presence across Africa, with active operations in Kenya, South Africa, and other emerging markets.
The company supports a variety of initiatives, including renewable energy projects and the promotion of green investment in the private sector.
Additionally, ServiceNow hosts high-level events such as the ServiceNow Africa Summit, which brings together investors, policymakers, and tech innovators to explore technology-driven approaches to solving regional challenges.
ServiceNow is particularly focused on helping both government and private sector institutions find technology-based solutions, with a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence, a focus area that aligns with the country’s national priorities in technology and innovation.
In a candid conversation on the Long Form podcast hosted by Sanny, Dr. Mutuyimana revealed how excessive screen time is fueling depression, addiction, and a loss of focus among young Rwandans, compounding the nation’s ongoing struggle with historical trauma.
“When you feel no support, when you feel rejected, at least you can look for another platform that can help you, and this is social media,” Dr. Mutuyimana explained, describing how youth turn to apps to escape feelings of isolation or inadequacy. However, this escape comes at a cost.
He shared the story of a client, a young professional, who became so addicted to her phone that she lost concentration at work, even checking TikTok during critical tasks.
“If you are always on your phone, you will never be you,” he cautioned, noting that constant consumption of others’ content stifles personal reflection and creativity.
Rwanda’s youth are particularly vulnerable. According to Dr. Mutuyimana’s social media’s addictive algorithms exacerbate feelings of helplessness and worthlessness.
“They are watching TikTok until the phone falls down,” he said, describing a cycle where youth sleep, eat, and work with their devices, leaving little time for real-world connections.
This obsession is not just a habit but a symptom of deeper issues, including family conflict and the intergenerational trauma stemming from the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
According to Dr. Mutuyimana, studies show that 30% of Rwandans experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), far above the global average of 1-8%.
For young people born after the genocide, the pain of their parents’ unresolved grief manifests in modern vices like social media overuse, alongside alcohol and drug abuse.
“They want to fill a gap inside,” he said, linking these behaviours to a search for fleeting happiness in a society still healing from collective wounds.
The psychotherapist also highlighted the physical toll of excessive screen time, echoing host Ntayombya’s personal experience.
“I had to go to the eye doctor because I was light-sensitive,” Ntayombya admitted, estimating he spent 18 hours a day on screens.
Dr. Mutuyimana warned that prolonged exposure to small screens at close distances can harm vision and disrupt sleep, further aggravating mental health issues.
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Dr. Mutuyimana advocates for balance and systemic change. He urges youth to set phone-free hours to “enjoy food, family time, and celebration” and calls for schools and parents to teach digital literacy to curb addiction.
At Baho Smile Institute, Dr. Mutuyimana’s team offers group therapy and community programs that encourage youth to build meaningful in-person connections, countering the isolation driven by excessive social media use.
He emphasises the need for systemic solutions, like teaching digital literacy, to address the addictive nature of platforms that consume young people’s time and attention.
“We need to learn from social media, but we also need time to innovate,” he said, emphasising the importance of fostering creativity over passive consumption.
“Our young people, so few will innovate,” he warned, “because they are only following discoveries.”
Beyond social media, Dr. Mutuyimana revealed that over 20% of youth born post-genocide suffer from their parents’ unresolved pain, transmitted through abusive parenting or silence.
“When you are a traumatised parent, you are more likely to transmit,” he said, citing a client whose mother shared heavy trauma, burdening her as a child.
The interview also tackled what the doctor described as Rwanda’s “culture of silence,” where admitting mental health struggles is “unusual”, especially for men.
Dr. Mutuyimana noted that men are more likely to die by suicide due to societal pressure to suppress pain, while women, more open to expressing emotions, face higher rates of depression and PTSD. He called for a shift to normalise therapy.
AFR, a non-profit company established in 2010 with the mission to promote financial inclusion and develop the financial sector in Rwanda, made a pledge to advance gender parity through signing the WIFR Gender Charter at its headquarters in Kacyiru.
The scholarships are part of a partnership between WIFR and the UK-based Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI), which provides certification in emerging fields such as sustainable finance and the future of finance.
The scholarship programme supports women across the financial sector by reducing the cost barrier to accessing globally recognised qualifications. While enrolment is valid for 12 months, learners can complete the CISI certification in as little as 12 weeks, depending on their schedule and commitment.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, AFR’s CEO, Jean Bosco Iyacu, reflected on the institution’s journey towards internal gender parity. He revealed that AFR has achieved equal representation of women on its board and executive committee and said the focus now shifts to increasing female representation across all staffing levels.
“This charter is not symbolic—it’s a reaffirmation that we’re still on the journey. We haven’t yet arrived,” Iyacu said.
“This charter becomes part of how we advocate for sector-wide change,” he added.
The charter signing and scholarship awards also highlighted AFR’s deepening collaboration with Women in Finance Rwanda, as the company recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support the foundation in conducting its first-ever survey to inform its activities.
“While individual institutions may know their internal figures, there’s a real gap in sector-wide data. We don’t fully understand the challenges women face that limit their progress—or worse, push them out of the sector altogether,” the AFR CEO added.
A general overview of the current landscape shows that while women make up 48.2% of Rwanda’s labour force compared to 65.6% for men, their presence in high-impact roles remains limited. In the private sector, only 32% of decision-making positions are held by women. Moreover, they are significantly underrepresented in higher-paying technical fields, limiting both their economic empowerment and influence on financial policy and innovation.
Dr. Diane Karusisi, CEO of Bank of Kigali and a WIFR Council and Institutional Member, represented the foundation at the event, where she emphasised to AFR staff that the movement is driven by action, not mere aspiration.
“Gender equity won’t happen if we just sit back and hope. It takes leadership. It takes intention. That’s why this partnership with AFR matters,” she said.
Dr. Karusisi noted that the CISI certification programme has already had a measurable impact. One of the four scholarship recipients from the Bank of Kigali’s previous cohort has since been promoted to a managerial role.
“That’s a clear example of the tangible impact this programme is having on women’s careers,” the CEO quipped.
Speaking on behalf of the new AFR scholarship beneficiaries, Honnête Isimbi, AFR’s Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist, stressed that the opportunity was not just about training, but about transformation.
“You’ve done more than just fund education—you’ve created access. You’ve opened doors to learning, to networks, and to platforms that have historically been difficult for women to reach. And we know that access is the first step toward transformation.”
Highlighting the broader impact of the partnership and the collective commitment within AFR, Agnes Uwanyirigira, AFR’s Chief Program Officer, emphasised the importance of institutional involvement in advancing gender equality.
“Today is a memorable day for the women at AFR who have grown, for the men, and for everyone who supports this agenda. I am proud to join Women in Finance Rwanda not just as an individual, but as an institution,” she remarked.
Beyond the scholarship programme, WIFR has also launched a mentorship initiative involving over 100 young professionals and 30 seasoned mentors. The programme aims to promote peer-to-peer learning and professional growth through structured group sessions over a nine-month period.
According to university officials, the programme is in advanced stages of development and has already been validated internally. It is now under review by the Higher Education Council (HEC) for final accreditation.
Once approved, it will be Rwanda’s first degree programme dedicated to nuclear science.
Prof. Ignace Gatare, Principal of the College of Science and Technology, said the programme aims to build a skilled workforce to support national goals in nuclear energy and related fields.
“We are looking forward to receiving feedback from HEC in regards to the national framework for accreditation of the new program,” Gatare told the New Times.
The four-year curriculum will start with core courses in physics, mathematics, electronics, and measurement technologies. Advanced years will introduce specialised topics in nuclear technology, aligning with Rwanda’s broader plans to develop peaceful applications of nuclear energy.
This initiative complements Rwanda’s strategy to build a nuclear research centre in partnership with Russia. The centre will focus on producing radioactive materials for cancer diagnosis and treatment, enhancing agriculture through radiation technologies, and advancing industrial testing methods.
Rwanda’s ambitions go further. The country plans to host Africa’s first demonstration of a Dual Fluid nuclear reactor and is pursuing small modular reactor (SMR) technology to meet growing electricity demands sustainably. SMRs are compact, safer alternatives to traditional reactors and are seen as key to Rwanda’s Vision 2050 goals.
Fidèle Ndahayo, CEO of the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board, previously emphasised the urgency of diversifying energy sources. With national energy capacity currently estimated at 650–700 MW, Rwanda needs to boost output to as much as 4.5 GW by 2050 to fuel economic growth.
The new academic programme is expected to play a critical role in supporting this transition by producing professionals who can contribute to sectors such as energy, healthcare, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and mining.
In his home area of Murundi Sector, Karongi District, Habiyaremye became widely known for the sheer number of people he killed during the Genocide against the Tutsi. Gacaca court records show he took the lives of more than 300 Tutsis, many of them his neighbours, acquaintances, and even friends.
Today, he still lives in the same region. The once densely populated hills of Gasharu Cell, where many Tutsi families had lived, now bear only terraced slopes and forests.
“That area was home to many Tutsis,” says Mukamatayo Anne Marie, President of Ibuka in Gasharu. “They were completely wiped out. Families like that of Mukakimenyi and Ntoyihuku vanished. No one from those homes is left.”
The story of Habiyaremye resurfaced during a past commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi, when the Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Dr. Jean Damascène Bizimana, cited him as an example of the scale of killings that occurred in the area.
“One striking case is in Nyamushishi Cell, Murundi Sector, where one man was found to have personally killed more people than any other individual identified through the Gacaca court system,” Dr. Bizimana said.
“Habiyaremye Bernard, known as ‘Kimashini’, murdered more than 300 people by name. He even remembers some of them.”
During the Genocide, Habiyaremye participated actively in killings. He recalls how it began:
“We were neighbours. One day, a man said to me, ‘They killed my daughter. Now I have no one to avenge me.’ That’s when I started. His name was Tharcisse Nzabahimana—I killed him. After that, I continued. I felt like it would catch up with me if I didn’t.”
Eventually, Habiyaremye was arrested and tried under the Gacaca court system. After serving his sentence, he returned to live in the same community he had once terrorised.
“Those I killed were close to me—neighbours with whom we shared meals, worked together in the fields, and lived peacefully before the genocide,” he admits. “Some were killed by others, but we had all lived together.”
Surprisingly, Habiyaremye says he was not rejected by his community upon return:
“I’ve never been turned away. I eat where others eat. I can’t say I have enemies.”
On whether he feels remorse, he reflects: “I wasn’t myself—I was like a statue. No one with a heart could do what I did and claim to be a good person.”
He credits Rwanda’s post-genocide education and reconciliation programmes for helping him and others like him to reflect, take responsibility, and rejoin the community.
“Unity and reconciliation have been powerful,” he says. “If you look around Rwanda, it’s clear the country has been rebuilt.”
Habiyaremye believes the fight against genocide ideology is everyone’s duty: “It still exists, but it can be identified and rooted out. That mindset must not find space in Rwanda.”
He says he now lives in peace with genocide survivors—some of whose relatives he killed:
“We live together, eat together, and talk. No one tells me to go away. I don’t hide, and they don’t avoid me.”
He also thanked President Paul Kagame for restoring national unity and said he now plays a role in building the same country he once helped tear apart.
Trump made the remarks while hosting Ramaphosa and his delegation, who are in the U.S. to revitalise diplomatic and economic ties with Washington.
In a wide-ranging discussion that touched on regional conflicts, trade, and African development, Trump singled out the Rwanda–DRC peace process as a highlight of his administration’s recent diplomatic efforts.
The mediation process is coordinated by Senior Advisor for Africa Massad Boulos.
“Looking very good,” President Trump said. “I’m hearing phenomenal reports because what I was hearing before was deaths, deaths and chopping of heads off. It was very horrible over there. It was really brave of you [Boulos], to go there. I really appreciate it. It looks like we have something very substantial.”
The U.S.-led mediation has made significant headway in recent months following widespread tensions that escalated after the takeover of large swaths of territory in eastern Congo by the M23 rebels, fighting what they describe as decades of persecution and marginalisation of Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese.
While the Congo accuses Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels, Rwanda denies this, stating that its main concern is the presence of the FDLR militia group, linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and its collaboration with the Congolese army, which poses a security threat along the border with Rwanda.
During the meeting at the White House on Wednesday, Boulos confirmed that Rwanda and the DRC recently signed a declaration of principles and have submitted their respective versions of a peace agreement. A unified draft incorporating both proposals has now been shared with both parties for final review.
“We are in the process of finalising it,” Boulos said. “A couple of weeks ago, the two parties signed a declaration of principle in which they agreed on the way forward. They have both submitted draft peace agreements, and we have compiled one that incorporates their suggestions. It looks very good.”
The U.S. State Department last week also confirmed that a peace agreement draft had been shared with President Paul Kagame and President Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC.
If all parties approve the final version, a landmark signing ceremony is scheduled for June at the White House. Presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi are expected to attend the event, which will also feature the signing of new economic cooperation deals with the United States.
Before the deal can be finalised, the U.S. has outlined key preconditions, particularly for the DRC. These include disbanding the FDLR militia and enacting governance reforms to ensure a fairer distribution of national resources.
If successful, the agreement could usher in a new era of stability for the long-troubled eastern DRC and boost regional economic integration, with U.S. investments playing a pivotal role.
Trump said his involvement in the conflict was motivated by a desire to save lives, not geopolitical gain.
“I have nothing to do with Rwanda and Congo, but I felt I had a very talented person in this administration, and I sent him there. He did an unbelievable job. He has done the hardest part of the job. I want to save the lives of each and every African—if it’s in Europe, wherever it may be,” Trump told the delegation.
In typical fashion, Trump also drew parallels to other global conflicts, saying that “we settled” tensions between India and Pakistan “in less than two days” through strategic trade diplomacy, while also citing ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
“It’s a very small investment for me compared to the consequences,” he added.
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President Ramaphosa thanked the U.S. for its role in pushing forward a peaceful resolution, revealing that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) had withdrawn its troops from eastern Congo to make way for diplomatic talks.
His visit to Washington comes amid efforts to reset relations between South Africa and the United States, especially in light of recent tensions and controversy over claims of racial violence in South Africa, which saw Trump offer refuge to white farmers fleeing the country.
Despite disagreements during the meeting, particularly when Trump raised long-standing “white genocide” claims, Ramaphosa expressed satisfaction with the private discussions, calling the visit “a great success” in opening communication channels and advancing trade opportunities.
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As Africa Day approaches on May 25, President Trump shared a broader message of peace and prosperity for the continent, stating that what he wants to see is peace across Africa.
“What I want is peace. I want to see happiness. I want to see health. You have an incredible land that has tremendous value—a lot of countries don’t have that,” he stated.
“We have settled a war that has been raging for years, Rwanda and the Congo, and I think we have done it.”
This decision overturns a 2024 ruling by a French court, which had dismissed the case on the grounds of insufficient evidence.
The Collectif des Parties Civiles pour le Rwanda (CPCR), rights group dedicated to prosecuting genocide suspects, successfully appealed the dismissal.
The Paris Court of Appeal ordered a renewed investigation into Mbarushimana’s alleged role in the atrocities.
Speaking with IGIHE, CPCR co-founder Dafroza Gauthier welcomed the ruling.
“We are pleased that the judiciary has agreed to reopen the investigation to uncover new evidence,” she said.
Mbarushimana worked for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) during the genocide.
In April 1994, after the UN evacuated foreign staff from Rwanda, he was tasked with protecting local employees. Hired by the UN in 1992, he was dismissed in 2001 following allegations of involvement in the deaths of 32 people, including UN staff.
UN war crimes investigator Tony Greig reported that Mbarushimana personally shot two victims and was implicated in the killing of Florence Ngirumpatse, UNDP’s human resources chief in Rwanda, and several Tutsi children she had sheltered, aged 8 to 18.
Greig’s findings, submitted to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), included testimonies from 25 witnesses alleging Mbarushimana’s direct involvement in the massacre and support for the Interahamwe militia, which spearheaded the genocide.
On April 7, 2024, Rwandan President Paul Kagame publicly criticized Mbarushimana’s freedom, noting that Florence Ngirumpatse was his cousin.
Kagame further disclosed that his cousin was betrayed by a colleague to the killers and celebrated after her death.
He expressed his disappointment that no action was ever taken against the UNDP staffer despite evidence implicating him.
“It later emerged that a Rwandan working at the UNDP betrayed his Tutsi colleague to the killers. Witnesses remember him celebrating Florence’s murder the night after the attack. He continued his career with the UN for many years even after evidence implicating him emerged. He is still a free man now living in France,” Kagame narrated.
In 2008, the CPCR requested an investigation into Mbarushimana by the Paris court handling crimes against humanity.
French authorities dismissed the case in October 2024, citing insufficient evidence and unreliable witness testimony.
The CPCR appealed, arguing that the ruling ignored critical testimonies and a UN internal report detailing Mbarushimana’s alleged crimes.
On May 21, 2025, the Paris Court of Appeal acknowledged these oversights, ordering a re-examination of evidence and new witness interviews. The reopened investigation has renewed hopes for accountability.
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Mbarushimana’s alleged crimes extend beyond 1994. He is linked to the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a terrorist group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he reportedly served as Executive Secretary.
In 2010, the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrested him in France on 13 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by FDLR fighters in 2009.
The ICC released him in 2011 citing insufficient evidence, and he has since lived freely in France.
Among the envoys were Sylver Aboubakar Minko Mi Nseme of Gabon, Vu Thanh Huyen of Vietnam, Viacheslav Yatsiuk of Ukraine, and others representing Chad, South Sudan, Argentina, Somalia, Tanzania, Angola, Sudan, and Norway.
A particularly notable development is the appointment of Viacheslav Yatsiuk as Ukraine’s new ambassador to Rwanda. He replaces Andrii Pravednyk, who had served in the role from 2021 until February 2025.
This follows the recent opening of Ukraine’s first embassy in Kigali on April 18, 2024—an important milestone in the bilateral relationship.
The embassy is currently headed by a Chargé d’Affaires as preparations continue for Ambassador Yatsiuk to officially assume his duties.
Ambassador Yatsiuk spoke warmly of the commonalities between Ukraine and Rwanda, noting that although the two countries are separated by more than 6,000 kilometers, they share histories of resilience.
He emphasized Ukraine’s deep respect for Rwanda’s progress under President Kagame’s leadership and expressed hope for Rwanda’s support as Ukraine continues to defend its sovereignty amid ongoing conflict with Russia.
He also identified areas of potential collaboration, including agriculture, technology, fertilizer production, and broader economic development.
The new ambassador from Vietnam, Vu Thanh Huyen, will be based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, while overseeing Vietnam’s diplomatic interests in Rwanda.
Vietnam and Rwanda established formal relations in 1975, and the partnership has been strengthened over the years.
A milestone in this relationship came in 2008 when President Kagame visited Vietnam, resulting in cooperation agreements in agriculture, health, and education. Today, the two countries continue to work toward shared goals such as sustainable development and economic transparency.
One of the most symbolic moments of the day was the appointment of Dr. Sylver Aboubakar Minko Mi Nseme as Gabon’s first ambassador based in Kigali.
Although Gabon and Rwanda have had diplomatic relations since 1976, the position had remained vacant since 2016. Dr. Minko Mi Nseme’s appointment marks a renewed commitment to deepen ties, especially in education, culture, and trade.
He emphasized the importance of collaboration, noting that over 2,000 Gabonese students are currently studying in Rwanda.
Ambassador Dr. Habib Gallus Kambanga of Tanzania pledged to focus on enhancing cooperation and trade between the two neighboring nations. Similarly, Ilyas Ali Hassan of Somalia affirmed his intent to strengthen bilateral relations.
From Sudan, Ambassador Khalid Musa Dafalla expressed admiration for Rwanda’s achievements in peacebuilding and national reconciliation, highlighting opportunities for agricultural trade.
Paul Malong Akaro of South Sudan echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the appeal of Rwanda’s education sector, which continues to attract students from his country.
Chad’s Ambassador Abdelkerim Ahmadaye Bakhit, who last visited Rwanda five years ago, shared his appreciation for the development he witnessed upon his return.
He affirmed that Chad could draw valuable lessons from Rwanda’s progress, particularly in the area of education.
The man attacked the diplomatic mission on Jan. 27, 2023, with a Kalashnikov rifle, killing a staff member and injuring two others, Tehran Police told local media in the wake of the incident.
The man was executed after the completion of relevant judicial investigations and trial process, during which he was convicted of willfully murdering an Azerbaijani national using a firearm inside the embassy, purchasing, carrying, and keeping an illegal weapon and ammunition, and disrupting public order, the Mizan news agency affiliated with the judiciary reported.
The ruling against him was also upheld by the Supreme Court of Iran, according to the report.
In the aftermath of the incident, Azerbaijan shut down its embassy in Iran. Baku described the attack as an “act of terror,” but Tehran said investigations revealed that the assailant had “personal and family-related” motives.
Azerbaijan reopened the embassy at a new location in Tehran in July 2024, after nearly a year and a half, with a guarantee from Iran that it would take appropriate measures to ensure the security of the new embassy.
Covering just four percent of China’s land area, Yunnan contains more than half of the nation’s plant and animal species, earning its reputation as China’s kingdom of biodiversity.
From the wild elephants of Xishuangbanna to the elusive Yunnan golden monkeys, this province harbors life found nowhere else on Earth. Ancient tea trees that have witnessed millennia still grow in Lincang, and the deep, fertile forests offer rare orchids and medicinal herbs used for generations.
But Yunnan’s uniqueness runs deeper than its flora and fauna. This province is the birthplace of Pu’er tea, a fermented treasure steeped in tradition.
For over a thousand years, caravans of traders traversed the Tea Horse Road, exchanging tea bricks for sturdy Tibetan horses, forging a cultural artery that connected China with its Himalayan neighbors. Today, those ancient tea trees—some more than 3,200 years old—still stand.
At the heart of Yunnan’s character is its extraordinary human diversity. Of China’s 56 recognized ethnic groups, 25 live in this single province. The Yi, Bai, Dai, and Naxi peoples, among others, maintain rich traditions that shape daily life, from the joyful water-splashing rituals of the Dai New Year to the firelit Torch Festival celebrated by the Yi.
In the old town of Lijiang, the Naxi people preserve Dongba culture, the world’s last remaining pictographic writing system still in use—a fragile bridge between ancient belief systems and modern life.
Yunnan’s landscapes feel as if drawn from a fantasy map. At one end lies Shangri-La, whose snow-capped mountains and Tibetan monasteries inspired James Hilton’s fictional paradise.
At the other, the Stone Forest stretches like a petrified city, its 270-million-year-old limestone spires rising from the earth in surreal formations.
The mighty Tiger Leaping Gorge slices nearly 4,000 meters deep between towering peaks, while the Yuanyang rice terraces ripple down hillsides in UNESCO-protected harmony with the land and seasons.
In the provincial capital, Kunming, the air carries the mildness of what locals call eternal spring. The city rarely experiences frost or sweltering heat, maintaining an average temperature of 15 degrees Celsius year-round. The climate has nourished not only a unique ecosystem, but also a colorful cuisine.
Local dishes like Crossing the Bridge Noodles are served with ceremony, while wild mushroom hotpots tempt diners with earthy aromas—and occasional hallucinations if one picks the wrong fungi.
Rose pastries from Dounan Market, the largest flower market in Asia, capture the province’s fragrant creativity in every bite.
Despite its inherent natural beauty, Yunnan stands as a powerful testament to human resilience in the face of challenging geographical obstacles.
Ninety-four percent of the province is mountainous, with elevation ranging from under 100 meters in the Red River Valley to over 6,700 meters at Kawagarbo Peak.
The terrain is so rugged that three of Asia’s great rivers—the Yangtze, Mekong, and Salween—run nearly parallel through towering gorges just kilometers apart.
The engineering required to make this region accessible is staggering. Yunnan is home to more road tunnels and bridges than any other part of China, including marvels like the Gaoligongshan Tunnel, one of the world’s deepest at over a kilometer underground, and the Beipanjiang Bridge, which soars higher than the Eiffel Tower over a plunging canyon.
Yunnan’s highways are more than mere infrastructure; they are bold testaments to human endeavor, often spiraling through mountains in defiance of the rugged terrain. The newly opened expressway between Lijiang and Shangri-La packs 86 tunnels and 120 bridges into just 125 kilometers.
Despite such progress, less than a third of Yunnan’s land is truly habitable. In the most remote corners, some villagers still rely on rope bridges or mules to reach markets and schools.
Others continue to live in matriarchal societies, like the Mosuo people near Lugu Lake, where women inherit property and lead households in a tradition that defies mainstream norms.
In a country as vast and fast-moving as China, Yunnan remains a world apart. It is a place where tropical jungles brush against snow-capped summits, where languages, scripts, and beliefs intertwine in daily life, and where the earth itself resists being tamed.
