Noyades after noyades, boats capsizing on the unforgiving Mediterranean Sea, lifeless bodies washing ashore, Africans dying in silent agony across the desert, and harrowing videos exposing the torture of African migrants and asylum seekers in Libya — these haunting images laid bare a humanitarian crisis that reached its peak in 2018. ALSO READ: Rwanda receives over 100 asylum seekers from Libya In Libya, women and girls faced rape, men and boys endured brutal torture, and all were trapped in the nightmarish conditions of modern-day slavery within overcrowded detention centers. Amidst this grim reality, Rwanda emerged as an unlikely yet vital sanctuary. In September 2019, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Government of Rwanda, the African Union (AU), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), leading to the creation of the Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM). Under this agreement, Rwanda committed to temporarily sheltering the migrants and asylum seekers trapped in Libya’s perilous grip. The ETM camp was established in Gashora Sector, Bugesera District, offering refuge and a lifeline to those who had endured unimaginable hardship. By July 2025, more than 2,760 migrants and asylum seekers had been evacuated from Libya and welcomed at Gashora Emergency Transit Centre, according to the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA). Over the last five years, 21 separate groups have arrived in Gashora, each carrying with them stories of loss, resilience, and survival. The initial group of 66 migrants and asylum seekers arrived in Rwanda, marking the beginning of a steady flow that continued with 20 subsequent batches. The latest arrival, in April 2025, included 137 individuals organized into 77 families, each carrying their own story of resilience and hope. From 2019 through 2025, Rwanda has received an average of approximately 394 migrants and asylum seekers annually, providing them not only refuge but also a vital chance to rebuild their lives in safety. The year 2022 marked the peak of arrivals, with 629 individuals grouped in 528 families seeking temporary refuge in Rwanda. Compared to 2021, this represented a 106% increase. The following year, 2023, saw a smaller rise of just 3.6%. Across the other years, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, and 2025, arrivals averaged about 305 people annually. The majority of those received were from the Horn of Africa, a region long marred by conflict and instability. The Horn of Africa remains the single largest source of migrants and asylum seekers at the Gashora ETM Camp. UNHCR figures demonstrate that by March 2024, Eritreans accounted for the largest share at 55%, followed by Sudanese at 31.5%. Somalis made up 6%, while Ethiopians comprised 4.8%. Smaller groups arrived from South Sudan, Cameroon, Guinea, Nigeria, Chad, and Mali. Both women and men cited similar reasons for leaving their ancestral lands, ranging from insecurity and political instability to economic hardship and the pursuit of better opportunities. At 39, Yordanos Afewerki carries the weight of two children’s futures in her heart and the memories of a homeland she will never return to. ‘Rwanda became a beacon of hope’ “There were no jobs, or if you worked, you received no wages that could support a family. I couldn’t feed my children. I had to leave, to look for a place where work meant survival, not suffering,” she said. Her story is echoed by many others at the camp. Michael Gattong, 28, from South Sudan, nodded as he listened. His journey began with the sound of gunfire and the uncertainty of each new day. Leaving wasn’t a choice; it was the only way to survive and live. “Unlike in Libya, arriving in Rwanda changed everything for me,” Gattong reflected. “Living in Libya was like living on the edge of death every single day. The camps were places of despair. But here in Rwanda, we were given a new chance, a new life. Rwanda became a beacon of hope, a sanctuary for all of us who escaped the nightmare in Libya. If more African countries treated migrants with the same compassion, Africa would truly shine as a continent of hope and dignity,” he said with a bright smile. At the Gashora ETM camp, every new arrival undergoes an induction process that begins with health screenings and urgent medical care. While many come in physically frail, it is often the unseen scars, the trauma of displacement and survival, that run deepest. Once in Gashora, they dive into a wide range of activities designed to rebuild their lives and dreams, skills-based training that breathes new life into their future. From language literacy and computer classes to driving lessons, barbershop, and hairdressing skills, each course is a stepping stone toward reclaiming their independence and dignity. Ever since he set foot in Gashora, Salahdin Osman, 26, a father of two from Eritrea, has embraced every opportunity to learn tailoring, driving, hairdressing, gathering skills like precious tools for his new path. “I left behind everything, my family, my home, my dreams, in search of a chance at life. Libya was a nightmare. I endured pain and suffering I never imagined. But here, in Gashora, I feel alive again. I have been treated with kindness and respect, and through these trainings, I am finding myself once more,” he said, his voice steady but filled with emotion. Between 2021 and 2025, driving, ICT, and tailoring drew the most eager learners, with 32%, 22%, and 17% of all trained participants, respectively. Other training workshops saw more than 330 trainees on average, while domestic electricity skills, though less common, still sparked the hope of 60 determined individuals over five years. At Gashora ETM Centre, migrants and asylum seekers are presented with three possible futures according to Augustin Ruyumbu, the Gashora ETM Camp Manager. These are voluntary return to their countries of origin, integration into Rwandan society, or resettlement in a third country. Few are willing to return to the places they fled, and local integration remains a daunting path for many. Instead, the overwhelming majority choose resettlement abroad, hoping for safety, stability, and opportunity. “In line with international law, we don’t impose any option on them. They have full freedom to decide what best fits their needs, and we respect that choice,” said Ruyumbu. “Our role is to provide protection and safeguard their well-being.”
