Rwanda, under the auspices of the UN Refugee Agency, has received 93 refugees and asylum seekers evacuated from Libya, marking the latest development in the Emergency Transit Mechanism Programme. This batch includes individuals from Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia, Ethiopia, and South Sudan, contributing to the over 2,150 people who have found temporary refuge in Rwanda since 2019.
This resettlement comes amid the UK Supreme Court’s recent decision against a plan to transfer some asylum seekers to Rwanda, citing safety and legal concerns. Despite this, Rwanda continues to demonstrate its commitment to humanitarian efforts, having welcomed 153 asylum seekers from Libya in December, according to the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA).
The asylum seekers are housed at the Gashora Transit Center in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, which has played a crucial role in the country’s response to the Libyan crisis since September 2019.
Rwanda’s engagement in providing safe haven for refugees and asylum seekers underscores its active participation in the global endeavor to alleviate the humanitarian crisis stemming from Libya. Libya, since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, has faced ongoing chaos and division, becoming a critical point for migrants and asylum seekers fleeing conflict and instability, often risking dangerous Mediterranean crossings in search of safety.
