The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has educated residents of Rubavu District, particularly in Bugeshi Sector, about the tactics used in human trafficking and urged them to remain vigilant against such schemes.
This was highlighted on March 11, 2025, during an awareness campaign being conducted in Rubavu District, especially in sectors located near the borders. The campaign aims to combat and prevent human trafficking.
Among the tactics discussed was the way traffickers transfer the victim from one person to another, making it difficult to identify the individuals behind the crime. In most cases, the operation is coordinated through phone communication and carried out by a large network of people.
Yves Augustin Mutabazi Crime Research Specialist in the Crime Research and Prevention Division at the Rwanda Investigation Bureau, explained that human trafficking is not carried out by a single individual but by organized groups using different strategies, which makes detecting them challenging.
He said:
“Human trafficking occurs when someone is deceived, misled, or moved from one place to another for the purpose of exploitation and illegal gain. Victims are subjected to various forms of abuse that can leave them traumatized. This includes forced prostitution, forced labor where someone works day and night without rest, and other forms of exploitation. All these actions constitute the crime of human trafficking.”
He further explained that traffickers often operate as a group rather than individually. Sometimes they approach victims by convincing them that their current living conditions are not good and promising them a better life elsewhere. Others deceive victims by offering fake job opportunities or promising to sponsor their education.
Mutabazi added that traffickers often pass the victim from one contact to another using different phone numbers. Each person communicates briefly and then refers the victim to someone else, without ever meeting them face-to-face. Some traffickers use illegal border routes, while others pass through official border points or even arrange flights for victims to travel abroad without them fully understanding the real purpose of the trip.
Some residents who attended the awareness campaign said that after learning about the tactics used by traffickers, they plan to take measures to prevent such crimes
One of the residents, Ayishakiye Jaqueline, said they will be more cautious about people who promise them jobs without clear information. She noted that they will first verify the authenticity of job opportunities and, when necessary, consult local authorities.
She added:
“We are encouraged to remain vigilant, work hard, and be satisfied with what we have while making the best use of it. We should not trust promises without carefully verifying them.”
Research conducted over the past five years, from 2019 to 2024, identified 297 individuals who were trafficked. Most of the victims were young people, representing 90 percent of the total cases, while 10 percent were adults aged over 30. Among the youth victims, 75 percent (212 individuals) were female, while the remaining victims were male.
Currently, anyone found guilty of committing the crime of human trafficking within Rwanda faces a prison sentence ranging from 10 to 15 years and a fine of between 10 million and 15 million Rwandan francs. For cross-border human trafficking, the law provides for a prison sentence ranging from 20 to 25 years and a fine of between 20 million and 25 million Rwandan francs.
