Rwanda ranks second in Africa for lowest organized crime rate

KIGALI - Rwanda has been ranked second in Africa for the lowest rate of organized crime, trailing only the Seychelles, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, announced on October 22, 2025. The announcement came during a meeting of the Ministry of Justice and its partners to outline strategies for crime prevention in the 2025/26 financial year.

Dr. Ugirashebuja highlighted that since the 2004 reforms of Rwanda’s justice system, the country has made significant progress in reducing crime, a trend increasingly reflected in reports from local and international institutions. He cited the latest ENACT project rankings, which placed Rwanda 53rd out of 54 African countries in terms of organized crime, just behind the Seychelles, ranked 54th.

The Minister credited the use of technology in justice, including the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS), with improving access to justice services and increasing the number of cases brought to court. He noted that greater reporting has sometimes revealed higher numbers in certain crimes, such as gender-based violence, which led to the establishment of Isange One Stop Centers.

“Strong measures are required to combat crime globally,” Dr. Ugirashebuja said, noting that the value of technology-related crime rose from $3 trillion in 2015 to $8 trillion in 2023, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Rwanda, emphasized Rwanda’s efforts to fight crime using innovative tools such as drones and community conflict resolution forums. She noted that crimes worldwide are estimated at $5.8 trillion, equivalent to 3-7% of global GDP, but Rwanda is making notable progress.

The Vice-Chancellor for Academics and Research at the Institute of Legal Education and Development (ILPD), Dr. Yves Sezirahiga, revealed that Rwanda requires an estimated 61 billion Rwandan francs annually to effectively fight crime. “We combined strategies from various institutions and consulted finance and planning experts. This study will guide this year’s crime-fighting strategies and outline the technological and institutional capacity needed,” he said.

The meeting underscored the government’s commitment to leveraging technology, improving institutional capacity, and implementing comprehensive strategies to further reduce crime and enhance public safety across Rwanda.