Rwanda Expands Alternative Justice Mechanisms to Promote Reconciliation and Ease Court

KIGALI, May 25, 2026 - Rwanda is intensifying efforts to strengthen alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, with senior judicial officials emphasizing that justice should focus not only on punishment but also on reconciliation, social harmony and community healing.

Speaking at a justice sector meeting on May 22, Supreme Court Judge Aloysie Cyanzayire said the country's growing reliance on non-judicial dispute resolution reflects a broader vision of justice aimed at restoring relationships and preserving social cohesion.

“Justice is not only about punishment,” Cyanzayire told participants. “It is also about reconciling relationships, uniting families and safeguarding human dignity.”

The meeting brought together justice sector leaders to assess progress and explore ways to further strengthen mediation, plea bargaining and other alternatives to traditional court proceedings.

According to officials, Rwanda’s alternative dispute resolution program, launched in 2022, has produced significant results. More than 34,000 criminal cases have been settled through plea bargaining since its introduction, while 1,335 criminal cases were resolved through mediation during 2026 alone.

Cyanzayire said the positive outcomes demonstrate the need to expand the initiative, expressing hope that in the future only disputes that cannot be resolved through alternative means will proceed to court.

Judicial authorities report that the program has contributed to a decline in crime in rural communities, where crime rates fell by 24.4 percent during the 2024/2025 fiscal year. The initiative has also helped reduce court backlogs, which declined from 62 percent in 2022 to 49 percent in 2025.

To further support the policy, the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD) has launched a nationwide training program on plea bargaining and victim-offender mediation. Running from May to July 2026, the program targets judges, prosecutors, investigators and lawyers.