Rwanda has received 173 asylum seekers evacuated from Libya under the Emergency Transit Mechanism, in the latest humanitarian transfer aimed at protecting vulnerable people stranded in unsafe conditions.
The group arrived in Rwanda on 17 June 2026 and was received by the Government of Rwanda, through the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management, in partnership with UNHCR Rwanda. It marks the 23rd group of asylum seekers evacuated from Libya to Rwanda under the programme.
The new arrivals include 85 people from Sudan, 66 from Eritrea, 12 from South Sudan, seven from Ethiopia, and two from Somalia. After landing in Rwanda, they were welcomed by government officials and humanitarian partners before being transferred to the Emergency Transit Mechanism Transit Centre.
At the centre, they will receive protection, shelter, medical support, and humanitarian assistance while longer-term solutions are pursued. These may include resettlement to third countries, voluntary return where conditions allow, or other protection pathways.
Since the launch of the Emergency Transit Mechanism in September 2019, Rwanda has received more than 3,000 refugees and asylum seekers evacuated from Libya. Of these, 2,623 have been resettled to third countries, including Canada, the United States, France, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark.
The ETM was established following Rwanda’s humanitarian commitment to provide temporary refuge to vulnerable migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers trapped in Libya. The initiative came after reports exposed severe abuses against African migrants, including detention, exploitation, trafficking, and inhumane treatment.
The programme is implemented in cooperation with the African Union, UNHCR, and other international partners. It aims to provide safe evacuation, emergency protection, and durable solutions for people who cannot safely remain in Libya.
Rwanda has said the initiative reflects its commitment to humanitarian responsibility-sharing and international protection. Officials say the country will continue to work with partners to support forcibly displaced people and help secure long-term solutions for those evacuated.
The arrival of the 23rd group highlights the continuing need for safe humanitarian pathways for vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers in Libya. It also reinforces Rwanda’s role as a key African partner in emergency evacuation efforts linked to the wider migration and displacement crisis.
