Rwanda has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting safe, orderly and regular migration, describing migration as a "structural reality” that can drive economic growth, skills development and sustainable development when properly governed.
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The remarks were delivered by Rwanda's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Martin Ngoga, during the Second International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) held on Friday, May 8, in New York.
Ngoga said the country's migration policies are guided by cooperation, evidence-based policymaking and respect for human rights.
"Rwanda considers migration as a structural reality that, when well governed, contributes to economic growth, skills development and sustainable development,” he said.
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The envoy noted that since the adoption of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) in 2018, the country has undertaken reforms aimed at strengthening migration governance.
He further emphasized that the country has integrated migration priorities into the second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), supported by institutional reforms, modernised systems and strengthened coordination mechanisms.
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Ngoga said Rwanda, which serves as a GCM Champion Country, is currently advancing its National Implementation Plan while contributing to peer learning and international cooperation on migration governance.
"We view the Global Compact as an operational framework that must deliver measurable results,” he said.
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He added that Rwanda has expanded regular migration pathways through initiatives such as Skills Mobility Partnerships, while also promoting ethical recruitment, diaspora engagement and inclusive access to essential services.
The envoy also highlighted Rwanda’s continued role in hosting refugees and asylum seekers, saying the country remains committed to international solidarity.
"Rwanda remains committed to international solidarity. We host over 140,000 refugees and asylum seekers and continue to support initiatives that preserve human capital, including education opportunities for Afghan girls and Sudanese medical students,” Ngoga said.
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He further pointed to Rwanda’s partnership with the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees under the Emergency Transit Mechanism programme.
Through the initiative, Rwanda has received nearly 3,000 vulnerable migrants evacuated from Libya. The majority of them have been resettled in third countries.
Ngoga said the programme demonstrates that international responsibility-sharing can produce concrete outcomes.
He reaffirmed Rwanda’s readiness to work with the partners to ensure migration remains "a force for good.”