Rwanda has received 177 refugees and asylum seekers evacuated from Libya, as the country continues discussions with Italy over possible cooperation involving the Gashora Emergency Transit Mechanism Centre in Bugesera District.
The group arrived in Rwanda on the night of Aug. 5, 2026, under a joint programme between the Government of Rwanda and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). They were transferred to the Gashora facility, where they will be accommodated temporarily while awaiting possible relocation to countries that have agreed to receive them.
The latest arrivals include 68 nationals from Sudan, 66 from Eritrea, 26 from South Sudan, 15 from Ethiopia and two from Somalia.
The arrival comes as Rwanda confirms that it is holding discussions with Italy on ways the Gashora centre could support efforts to address challenges linked to irregular migration and the protection of vulnerable people.
Government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said the talks are still at an early stage and that no agreement has been reached. She said one of the ideas being considered is using the existing facility as a safe temporary location for individuals and families who have no immediate destination.
“Among the ideas being discussed is how we can use the temporary accommodation facility we already have in Gashora as a safe place for families and individuals who have nowhere else to go. The discussions are still ongoing and no decision has been made,” Makolo said.
Rwanda established the Gashora Emergency Transit Mechanism Centre in 2018 in partnership with UNHCR and other international organisations to receive African migrants evacuated from Libya, where many faced dangerous conditions while attempting to cross towards Europe.
Since September 2019, more than 3,000 refugees and asylum seekers have passed through the facility. Of these, 2,681 have been relocated to countries that accepted them for permanent settlement.
Those countries include Canada, which received 927 people, France with 332, the United States with 325, Sweden with 297, Finland with 271, Norway with 229, Germany with 132, the Netherlands with 94 and Belgium with 72.
Makolo said Rwanda’s involvement in refugee protection is shaped by its own history of displacement and decades of experience hosting refugees. The country currently hosts more than 100,000 refugees, mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.
She said refugees living in Rwanda are allowed to work, access healthcare services and obtain identification documents while they await either voluntary return to their home countries or opportunities for relocation.
The Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA) said Rwanda remains committed to working with international partners to provide protection and humanitarian support to people fleeing conflict and other life-threatening situations.
