Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Rwanda has renewed its agreement with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to host asylum seekers from Libya. The tripartite agreement, which was signed on Thursday, August 22, extends the arrangement until 2025.
Since the initial agreement was signed in 2019, Rwanda has established an Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM) in Gashora to provide a safe haven for refugees and asylum seekers stranded in Libya. Over 2,300 individuals from countries including Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mali have been evacuated from Libya and relocated to Rwanda.
Of these evacuees, 1,813 have been resettled to third countries, finding lasting solutions to their displacement. The Rwandan government has reaffirmed its commitment to receive and protect these individuals, particularly those identified as vulnerable and at-risk.
The three parties involved in the agreement have emphasized the importance of a transparent selection process for evacuees, ensuring equal opportunities for all potential candidates regardless of nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, age, or other criteria.
For those who do not qualify for refugee status or are unwilling to remain in Rwanda, alternative solutions are being explored. These options include voluntary return, resettlement, family reunification, and access to other solutions in third countries.
