2025 in Rwanda

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Decades:	2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	Other events of 2025 List of years in Rwanda

Events in the year 2025 in Rwanda .

Incumbents

• President: Paul Kagame
• Prime minister: Édouard Ngirente

Events

January

• 15 January – The Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board announces the discovery of 13 oil reservoirs in Lake Kivu. ^[1]
• 25 January – The Democratic Republic of the Congo cuts diplomatic relations with Rwanda and orders its diplomatic personnel to leave the country amid accusations by the DRC of Rwandan support for the M23 offensive. ^[2]
• 27 January – Five people are killed in Gisenyi following an unspecified incident related to the Battle of Goma in neighboring DRC. ^[3]

February

• 20 February – The United States imposes sanctions on minister for regional integration James Kabarebe for his role in the M23 offensive in the DRC. ^[4]
• 25 February – The UK announces a partial suspension of its bilateral aid to Rwanda and sanctions over the Congo conflict. ^[5]

March

• 4 March – Germany announces a suspension of new bilateral aid to Rwanda over its support for M23. ^[6]
• 17 March – Rwanda severs diplomatic relations with Belgium and orders the expulsion of the latter's diplomats from the country after accusing Brussels of attempting to "sustain its neo-colonial delusions" amid the conflict in the DRC. ^[7]

June

• 7 June – Rwanda announces its departure from the Economic Community of Central African States, citing the bloc's "instrumentalisation" by the DRC. ^[8]
• 10 June – Seventy southern white rhinos are successfully relocated from South Africa to Rwanda’s Akagera National Park in the largest air-based translocation of its kind. ^[9]
• 19 June – Opposition leader Victoire Ingabire is arrested on charges of plotting to incite public unrest. ^[10]
• 27 June – The DRC and Rwanda sign a peace agreement to end the Kivu conflict following negotiations mediated by the United States. ^[11]

July

• 28 July – A magnitude 5.1 earthquake with an epicenter in neighboring Burundi triggers a crowd crush that injures 14 people at a school in Gicumbi District. ^[12]

August

• 4 August – The United States and Rwanda negotiate a deal that deports 250 migrants in the United States to Rwanda, in exchange for an unspecified grant. ^[13]
• 8 August – Bayern Munich announces it will scale back “Visit Rwanda” branding, shifting its sponsorship to a three-year youth talent programme at the FC Bayern Academy in Kigali amid criticism over Rwanda’s support for M-23 rebels. ^[14]
• 21 August – A French court dismisses a case against exiled former first lady Agathe Habyarimana accusing her of involvement in the Rwandan Genocide in 1994. ^[15]

September

• 4-5 September – Aviation Africa 2025
• 21–28 September – 2025 UCI Road World Championships ^[16]

December

• 4 December – The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda sign a peace agreement presided over by US president Donald Trump in Washington DC. ^[17]

Ongoing

• Democratic Republic of the Congo–Rwanda tensions (2022–present)

Holidays

Further information: Public holidays in Rwanda

Source: ^[18]

• 1 January – New Year's Day
• 2 January – New Year's Holiday
• 1 February – National Heroes' Day
• 3 February – National Heroes' Day Holiday
• 30 March – Eid al-Fitr
• 31 March – Eid al-Fitr Holiday
• 7 April – Tutsi Genocide Memorial Day
• 18 April – Good Friday
• 21 April – Easter Monday
• 1 May – Labour Day
• 6 June – Eid al-Adha
• 1 July – Independence Day
• 4 July – Liberation Day
• 1 August – Umuganura
• 15 August – Assumption Day
• 25 December – Christmas Day
• 26 December – Boxing Day

Deaths

• 9 October – Marie Immaculée Ingabire, 63, human rights activist. ^[19]

References

1. "Rwanda discovers oil in Lake Kivu". Africanews. 15 January 2025.
2. "Congo severs ties with Rwanda as rebels close in on Goma, displacing thousands". AP News. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
3. "Fighting rages as rebels and army clash in DR Congo". BBC . 27 January 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
4. "The US sanctions a Rwanda official and a rebel spokesperson over violence in eastern Congo". AP News. 21 February 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
5. James, William (25 February 2025). "UK to suspend bilateral aid to Rwanda over Congo conflict". Reuters. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
6. "Germany suspends new financial aid to Rwanda over alleged support for M23 rebels in Congo". AP News. 4 March 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
7. "Rwanda severs ties with Belgium over 'neo-colonial delusions'". BBC. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
8. "Rwanda quits ECCAS amid tensions with DRC". Africanews. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
9. "Dozens of white rhinos relocated from South Africa to Rwanda". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
10. "Rwandan opposition leader arrested over alleged plot against authorities". AP News. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
11. "Congo and Rwanda sign a US-mediated peace deal aimed at ending decades of bloody conflict". AP News. 2025-06-28. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
12. "Gicumbi: 14 students injured in panic after earthquake". The New Times. 29 July 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
13. Psaledakis, Daphne (4 August 2025). "Exclusive: Rwanda reached deal with US to take in up to 250 migrants, government says". Reuters . Retrieved 4 November 2025.
14. "Bayern Munich veers from Rwanda sponsorship after criticism". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
15. "French judges dismiss genocide case against Rwanda's former first lady". Le Monde. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
16. "Kigali hosts historic first road world cycling championships in Africa". France 24. 21 September 2025.
17. "Trump hails 'great day for the world' as DRC, Rwanda finalise peace deal". Al Jazeera. 4 December 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
18. "Rwanda Public Holidays 2025". Public Holidays Global. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
19. Kuteesa, Hudson (October 9, 2025). "Marie-Immaculée Ingabire passes on at 63". The New Times. Retrieved October 9, 2025.