Rwanda: Nearly 290 Trafficking Victims Rescued Since 2025, Says Minister

AllAfrica English (current) En Français Toggle navigation My Account Toggle navigation AllAfrica My Account English (current) En Français Rwanda: Nearly 290 Trafficking Victims Rescued Since 2025, Says Minister 24 July 2026 The New Times (Kigali) By Charles Nyandwi Rwanda has facilitated the return of 289 victims of human trafficking from four countries since 2025, according to the Minister of Justice Emmanuel Ugirashebuja. Ugirashebuja said this on Thursday, July 23, as he appeared before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, National Unity and Security to discuss Rwanda's implementation of international commitments on preventing and combating human trafficking. ALSO READ: Over 100 Rwandan human trafficking victims repatriated in one year Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn The minister said the returns were facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MINAFFET), in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other institutions. He said that the number was recorded from 2025 up to March 2026, explaining that 101 people were brought back from Cambodia, 99 from Oman, 58 from Laos and 31 from Myanmar. Ugirashebuja added that the government had established mechanisms to support victims after their return, including assistance provided through Isange One Stop Centres. ALSO READ: Concerns grow over changing face of human trafficking Former victims of human trafficking receive immediate assistance, including shelter and medical services, while those who need further support can continue education, acquire vocational skills or start income-generating activities. "In 2025, Isange One Stop Centres provided support to 65 victims of human trafficking," Ugirashebuja said. He said Rwanda continues to face challenges in addressing human trafficking because it is a cross-border crime involving networks that operate across different countries. ALSO READ: Ending human trafficking is a collective duty The minister noted that some victims face difficulties reporting their cases because traffickers often take away their identification documents and communication devices. He said Rwanda continues to strengthen cooperation with other countries and institutions to prevent trafficking, assist victims and ensure perpetrators are held accountable. Senator Hadija Murangwa, the Senate Committee Chairperson, said more awareness is needed among young people, especially regarding misleading information about opportunities abroad. She said some young people are influenced by the belief that leaving the country automatically leads to better opportunities, without fully understanding the risks involved. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top HeadlinesRwandaLegal AffairsHuman Rights Submit By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished...We need to confirm your email address.To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "The mindset that going out of the country is a great thing in itself is something they have developed, but they do not realise that they may be heading to a place where they do not know what awaits them," Murangwa said. She noted that some victims only manage to return after experiencing exploitation. Murangwa said cooperation with other countries has helped prevent trafficking cases, noting that preventing people from being trafficked is easier than trying to bring them back after exploitation has already occurred. Read the original article on New Times. Tagged: Rwanda East Africa Legal Affairs Human Rights Migration Central Africa Copyright © 2026 The New Times. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us. AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa - aggregating, producing and distributing 600 news and information items daily from over 90 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington DC. Support our work Sign up for our newsletter For Advertisers Subscribe © 2026 AllAfrica Privacy Policy Contact Us About Us AllAfrica - All the Time Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Submit By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished...We need to confirm your email address.To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.Read the full article at AllAfrica Latest