The group arrived on Wednesday night through a joint effort between the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Government of Rwanda. Of the 164 evacuees, 143 originate from Sudan, 19 from Eritrea, while one person each comes from Ethiopia and South Sudan.
The ETM, a joint initiative involving UNHCR and the African Union, was established to provide lifesaving protection and assistance to vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers trapped in Libya. The mechanism temporarily relocates them to Rwanda while durable solutions, including resettlement to third countries, are pursued.
Since the launch of the ETM in 2019, a total of 2,760 people have been evacuated to Rwanda and hosted at Gashora Transit Centre. Of these, more than 2,500 have since been resettled in third countries.
In August 2024, the Government of Rwanda, UNHCR, and the African Union Commission agreed to extend the ETM programme. In a joint statement issued on August 22, 2024, the three parties reaffirmed their commitment to continue protecting evacuees and securing lasting solutions, while Rwanda provides temporary safe haven.
“The Government of Rwanda reaffirms its unwavering commitment to receive and protect these individuals, as well as others identified as particularly vulnerable and at risk,” the statement noted.
The parties also adopted a second addendum to the original Memorandum of Understanding signed on September 10, 2019. The updated framework emphasises a more transparent selection process for evacuees, ensuring equal opportunity for all potential candidates, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, age, or any other factor unrelated to vulnerability.
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