Rwanda has said it will continue welcoming people seeking safety and better opportunities, while calling for stronger cooperation between countries to help migrants find jobs, develop skills and build better lives.
The commitment was reaffirmed during the International Dialogue on Migration 2026, held in Geneva on November 2 and organised by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The meeting, held under the theme Building Trust, Advancing Development: Shaping the Future of Migration Governance, brought together countries and international partners to discuss how migration can contribute to development while ensuring the safety and protection of people moving across borders.
In a statement shared on November 2, the Embassy of Rwanda in Switzerland, which also serves as the country’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, reiterated the government’s policy of welcoming people seeking safety, protection and new opportunities.
Rwanda explained that when migration is properly managed, it can support economic growth, strengthen communities and improve cooperation between countries.
The government also stressed that migration should be part of national development plans, with greater attention given to employment, skills training and opportunities in the labour market.
During discussions on improving cooperation between countries, Rwanda emphasised the importance of ensuring that migrants can travel safely and through legal channels.
It called for shared responsibility among countries where migrants come from, those they pass through and those where they eventually settle.
According to Rwanda’s position, protecting migrants should not begin only when they reach their destination.
Countries along their journey must work together to ensure their safety, protect their rights and create opportunities for them to improve their lives.
Rwanda also highlighted its partnership with IOM in collecting migration data and mapping Rwandan communities living abroad.
The government explained that reliable information helps countries understand migration patterns, identify people’s needs and develop policies based on evidence rather than assumptions.
It further emphasised that sharing information between governments and international organisations can strengthen trust and turn cooperation into practical results.
The discussions follow continued cooperation between Rwanda and IOM on employment, skills development and safe migration.
In August 2026, IOM Director General Amy Pope visited Rwanda, where she met Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva and other senior government officials to discuss how migration can support development.
Speaking at the conclusion of her visit on August 21, Pope said:
“Rwanda is showing how investment in skills, labor mobility and protection can turn migration into an opportunity for people and economies.”
During the same visit, Minister of Public Service and Labour Judith Uwizeye also held discussions with the Pope on youth employment, entrepreneurship, labour mobility and opportunities for Rwandans living abroad to contribute to national development.
Rwanda has continued to provide protection to refugees and asylum seekers from different countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.
According to United Nations refugee agency data for September 30, 2026, Rwanda hosted 140,377 forcibly displaced people and other people of concern, with the largest groups originating from those two neighbouring countries.
The country also works with the African Union and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees through the Emergency Transit Mechanism, which provides temporary shelter and protection to vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers evacuated from Libya while longer-term solutions are sought.
At the Geneva meeting, Rwanda maintained that migration should be managed in ways that protect people while allowing countries and communities to benefit from their skills and contributions.
The government stressed that stronger international cooperation, reliable migration information and greater access to employment and training are important in making migration a source of development and opportunity.
RADIOTV10