Ingabire Joselyne, Senior State Attorney in charge of International Justice and Judicial Cooperation at the Ministry of Justice, disclosed the figures in Rubavu on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, during a campaign to raise awareness about human trafficking.
“Recent figures on human trafficking show that 297 people had been repatriated between July 2025 and June 2026. This remains a serious and concerning crime globally, as many people are lured through technology,” Ingabire said.
She added that 11 cases involving 12 people accused of human trafficking had been tried, demonstrating that the crime also occurs in Rwanda.
Speaking to IGIHE, Ingabire said the 297 people had been trafficked to four countries including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Oman. Most of those repatriated were young people.
She said repatriated victims receive different forms of support, including medical care for six months before they are reintegrated into their families.
Residents also said human trafficking remains a growing concern, including in neighbouring countries.
Rwanda has ratified several international agreements aimed at combating human trafficking and continues to implement their provisions, although challenges remain.
Measures include prosecuting people involved in trafficking, preventing the crime through awareness campaigns, protecting victims and strengthening cooperation in the fight against human trafficking.
In the past three years, 54 people in Rwanda have been convicted and sentenced for human trafficking offences. They include 12 convicted in 2025, 18 in 2024 and 24 in 2023.
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