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

What the report says

AllAfrica, carrying a report by The New Times, said Rwanda has helped repatriate 289 victims of human trafficking from four countries since 2025. Justice Minister Emmanuel Ugirashebuja gave the figure on Thursday, July 23, while appearing before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, National Unity and Security to discuss Rwanda’s implementation of international commitments against human trafficking.

According to the report, the returns were coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, working with the International Organization for Migration and other institutions. Ugirashebuja said the total covered the period from 2025 through March 2026, with 101 people returned from Cambodia, 99 from Oman, 58 from Laos and 31 from Myanmar.

The minister said Rwanda has put in place post-return support mechanisms, including services through Isange One Stop Centres. The report said rescued victims may receive immediate help such as shelter and medical care, while those needing longer-term assistance can be supported to continue education, gain vocational skills or begin income-generating activities. Ugirashebuja said Isange centres assisted 65 trafficking victims in 2025.

Ugirashebuja described trafficking as a cross-border crime involving networks operating in multiple countries, making enforcement and victim assistance difficult. He said some victims struggle to report cases because traffickers confiscate identity documents and communication devices. Senator Hadija Murangwa, who chairs the committee, called for greater awareness among young people about deceptive promises of opportunities abroad, saying prevention through international cooperation is preferable to trying to secure victims’ return after exploitation.