Written by: Badr Ahmed

Northern Rwanda has witnessed an increasing series of landslides and mudslides in recent years, as a result of heavy rains and fragile mountainous terrain, leaving residential and agricultural areas in constant confrontation with escalating natural hazards.

These phenomena intensify during the rainy seasons, causing material and human losses and widespread disruptions to the lives of local residents.

Northern Rwanda is under threat

In March 2026, a mudslide struck Funga village in Nyabeho district, causing extensive damage to homes and the area's primary school.

Thick layers of mud covered large sections of kitchens and classrooms after the Kazirangara River overflowed its banks following the landslide. The incident displaced several families and disrupted essential services in the village, highlighting the vulnerability of infrastructure to recurring natural disasters.

Local residents confirm that these disasters have become more frequent in recent years. Those affected say that fertile land has become a constant source of danger, and they are calling on the government to build barriers and dams to mitigate flooding.

Farmers are also suffering continuous losses, with some families losing their land, which has affected food security, family income, and children's education, pushing many into difficult living conditions and threatening livelihoods.

Rwandan authorities explain that the country faces a range of natural hazards related to its geographical location in a seismically and volcanically active region near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Climate change is also contributing to more intense rainfall, exacerbating floods, mudslides, and landslides. While the government is working to resettle some affected families by building new housing units, local communities continue to suffer from recurring disasters and their ongoing impact. on Living stability.