Rwanda Warns Unresolved Marital Problems Fuel Divorce

KIGALI, Rwanda — Rwanda’s Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) notes that many marriages end in Divorce in Rwanda.

These marriages are usually preceded by long-standing problems that couples tolerate for years before separating.

MIGEPROF Permanent Secretary Mireille Batamuriza made the observation during a media discussion involving several outlets.

She highlighted the importance of addressing serious problems in relationships before they become entrenched, a point about Divorce in Rwanda.

According to figures from Rwanda’s National Institute of Statistics for 2025, 4,479 marriages were dissolved through divorce in recent years. Courts received 3,620 divorce cases during the first six months of 2026, according to figures cited in the discussion.

Overall, people who sought Divorce in Rwanda in 2025 were predominantly couples who had been married for less than 10 years. The figures showed this accounted for 41.2% of all divorces.

Problems can persist for years

Batamuriza said couples who encounter serious problems shortly after marriage do not necessarily separate immediately.

She explained that people often need time to process what has happened, consider their options and seek support before making a decision to end a marriage.

“When you disagree about something, you first question it and ask yourself: Is this really the person I chose?’ The process of thinking and making a decision takes time,” she said.

She noted that even when a serious problem could potentially provide grounds for divorce, couples may choose to remain together for various reasons.

For example, a woman may become pregnant within the first year of marriage, making separation more complicated for her. Couples may also turn to relatives, religious leaders or other people they trust in the hope of resolving their problems.

Do not wait until 10 years’

However, Batamuriza said that as years pass, some couples eventually reach a point where they conclude that continuing to live together in a troubled relationship is no longer sustainable.

She questioned why couples should continue enduring serious and persistent problems for many years when it becomes clear that the relationship is unlikely to work.

“If you have already seen that it does not work, why force yourself to live with that person? … Why wait until you have been together for 10 years? Really, reduce the number of years; it does not have to reach 10,” she said.

Her comments also highlighted the importance of identifying serious relationship problems before marriage. According to Batamuriza, couples should not necessarily proceed with marriage if fundamental incompatibilities or harmful behaviors have already become apparent.

Domestic violence among concerns

Batamuriza cited situations involving domestic violence as an example of problems that should not simply be ignored or tolerated for years.

She described cases in which a partner may be publicly assaulted and then receive an apology the following day, only for the behavior to be repeated.

The concern, she suggested, is that repeatedly tolerating such behavior can allow destructive patterns to continue within a household.

Impact on the next generation

Beyond the couple themselves, Batamuriza warned that prolonged conflict within a household can affect children who grow up in such environments.

Children raised amid persistent marital conflict may develop fear or negative perceptions about marriage, potentially affecting their own future relationships.

In some cases, she said, the effects can also affect their psychological well-being and later family life.

The discussion therefore placed emphasis not only on reducing marital breakdown but also on addressing serious problems in relationships before they become deeply rooted and affect the wider family.

For Rwanda, where the family remains an important social institution, the issue highlights the need for couples and communities to recognize harmful relationship patterns early. Seek appropriate support rather than allowing unresolved problems to continue for years.

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