The Government of Rwanda as a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention as well as other related protocols and conventions; through the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA) it ensures the overall general protection, security, and safety of the persons of concern.

MINEMA in collaboration with The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is responsible for the smooth delivery of multi-sector assistance by project partners to refugees residing in refugee camps and reception centers, and to refugees and asylum seekers living in urban areas.

As of 31^st August 2024, Rwanda counts 135,077 individuals of the population of concern. Congolese make up 61.30% of the total refugee population, Burundians are 38.06%, evacuees from Libya in the Emergency Transit Mechanism make up 0.44% and refugees from other nationalities make up 0,20%. Urban refugees make up 9% of the total population, children make up 49% of the registered population while women and children are 75% of the registered population. The average family size is 3.7 individuals..

The Government of Rwanda continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to economic development with the ambition to transform from a low to a mid-level development country. Refugees are also included in different initiatives including social-economic inclusion, education, and health. With reference to the Government of Rwanda 2019 pledges; current priorities include job creation and livelihoods, energy, infrastructure, and environmental protection.

Responding to New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants in the Leaders’ Summit for Refugees on 20 September 2016, the Government of Rwanda (GoR) announced four commitments in support of refugee inclusion in Rwanda: 

(i)    Public launch of joint MIDIMAR (now MINEMA)-UNHCR livelihoods strategy, with a focus on graduating camp-based refugees out of assistance programs and increasing formal access to work opportunities;

(ii)    Commitment to ensure that 100% of refugees are in possession of valid refugee identity cards issued by the Government of the Republic of Rwanda (NIDA) by end of 2017; 

(iii)    Commitment to ensure that 100% of refugee students in secondary school and 50% in primary schools will be integrated into national education systems by the end of 2018; and 

(iv)    Commitment to ensure that 100% of urban refugees will have the opportunity to buy into the national health insurance system by the end of 2017.