Rwanda’s prosecution is grappling with increasingly complex cybercrime and cross-border offences, despite progress in reducing its overall caseload, officials have said. The information was shared during the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA)’s annual General Meeting on Friday, November 14. Addressing the meeting, Prosecutor General Angelique Habyarimana said the nature of crime is shifting rapidly as criminals adopt sophisticated digital methods, making evidence harder to trace and cases more difficult to conclude. ALSO READ: Petition against Rwanda’s cybercrime law set for pre-trial “Due to technological advancements, cybercrimes are rising with evidence becoming harder to get, and cross-border cases are not easy to work on,” she said. In the past financial year, the NPPA received more than 78,000 cases, down from 90,000 and 86,000 in the previous two years. Conviction rates stood at 94.4 per cent, meeting the institution’s target, while 42 per cent of cases were resolved through alternative methods such as ADR, fines, and settlements, reducing pressure on the courts. ALSO READ: Regional countries urged to collaborate on fighting cross-border crime Habyarimana said cooperation with foreign jurisdictions remains crucial, especially in handling genocide suspects who fled the country, noting that indictments have been shared with partner countries. The NPPA’s latest annual report shows mixed progress in meeting targets set for the 2024/2025 year. Case processing reached 96.4 per cent, surpassing the 96 per cent target, while cases sent to court rose to 53.8 per cent, slightly above the planned 50 per cent. However, the prosecution authority fell short on several goals. Only 60 indictments were issued for genocide fugitives, against a target of 120.
