Recent statistics from the Judiciary, shows that in the 2024/2025 judicial year, 2,674 couples officially divorced, a slight drop compared to the 2,833 cases recorded the year before.
Even with this decrease, divorce still tops all civil disputes in the country outranking property conflicts, contract disagreements, and civil registration issues such as birth or marriage certificates.
Why Divorce Cases Keep Rising
Looking at the bigger picture, Rwanda has witnessed a sharp increase in divorce over the last decade. In 2016, there were only 21 divorce petitions. Just three years later, in 2019, the number had rose up to nearly 9,000 cases. Since then, divorce filings have remained in the thousands every year.
What explains this trend? Experts point to several reasons: changing social values, financial pressures, rising awareness of legal rights, and a growing refusal to stay in unhappy or abusive marriages. The grounds for divorce under Rwandan law include adultery, financial neglect, abuse, emotional distress, and other disruptive behaviors that make living together intolerable.
How the Law is Adapting
Under Article 156 of the revised law, if a couple divorces before five years of marriage, the court may decide not to divide property equally, especially if one party requests it and provides valid reasons.
“If the joint property regime is dissolved due to divorce or change in property management, the spouses share property and debts equally or as mutually agreed. However, if they were married for less than five years, the court may order an unequal division based on each party’s contribution,” the law states.
The law also allows courts to assign the value of damaged or undisclosed assets and debts solely to the responsible party, especially when the assets or debts were hidden from the spouse.
The sharp rise in divorce filings has forced lawmakers to rethink how marriage and property are handled. In the past, many couples married under a full joint property system, meaning everything they owned would be divided equally in case of divorce. This led to concerns of misuse, with some people allegedly entering marriage with the hidden intention of gaining wealth through separation.
To address this, the revised Law Governing Persons and Family now gives courts the power to divide property unequally if a marriage ends in less than five years, especially if one spouse proves they contributed more than the other. This reform aims to make the system fairer and discourage opportunistic marriages.
Encouraging Mediation Over Court Battles
Another challenge is the strain divorce cases place on the courts. With thousands of couples separating every year, judges face an overwhelming workload. That’s why the Judiciary is promoting alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods, such as mediation and negotiation, to help couples settle issues outside of court.
For criminal matters, approaches like restorative justice and plea bargaining are also being strengthened. But in family cases, the hope is that fewer people will rush straight to litigation, and instead find solutions that reduce conflict and protect children from the harshness of legal battles.
Beyond the Numbers: The Human Cost
Behind every statistic is a family in crisis. Divorce often affects more than just the couple; it reshapes children’s lives, strains extended families, and sometimes leaves one partner often women financially vulnerable. While legal reforms help address fairness, social support systems remain equally important to cushion the emotional and economic impact of separation.
Looking Ahead
Divorce in Rwanda is no longer the rare and taboo subject it once was. Instead, it has become a pressing social issue that reflects the changing dynamics of relationships, gender roles, and economic realities. With thousands of cases each year, the challenge is not only legal but also cultural and social: How can Rwanda strengthen marriages while still protecting individuals from harmful unions?
As the courts, lawmakers, and families continue to adapt, one thing is clear: divorce is here to stay as part of Rwanda’s evolving social landscape
Brenna AKARABO
RADIOTV10
