Rwanda has been commended for significant progress in resolving disputes outside the courts, thanks to the development of the Kigali International Centre for Arbitration (CIARB Rwanda).
The praise came from Cesar Pereira, President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, during a one-day visit to Rwanda. Pereira held talks with the Chief Justice of Rwanda, Hon. Domitilla Mukantaganzwa, lauding the country’s efforts to strengthen policies promoting alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
Pereira highlighted the active role of Rwanda’s bar association in assisting citizens to resolve conflicts without resorting to formal litigation, and he commended CIARB Rwanda for its impactful work.
“We highly appreciate CIARB Rwanda for its ongoing work in resolving disputes outside the courts. It is one of the strongest arbitration institutions in Africa and is recognized internationally. We also value its role in training international arbitrators and believe Rwanda has all the potential to become a regional arbitration hub,” Pereira said.
Rwanda’s courts spokesperson, Harrison Mutabazi, noted that the judiciary is ready to cooperate with institutions and government agencies to promote ADR, ensuring faster and more accessible justice.
“Rwanda has prioritized out-of-court dispute resolution as a way for people to access justice quickly when needed, helping prevent unnecessary court backlogs by enabling trained mediators to resolve cases,” Mutabazi said.
The government has implemented various initiatives to reduce court case backlogs sustainably, including strengthening the judiciary and rolling out new policies to monitor criminal cases and promote alternative dispute resolution.
Early results are promising: in the 2024/2025 fiscal year, out of 124,204 cases concluded, over 15,000 were resolved through mutual agreement without court intervention.
This effort aligns with the second phase of Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), under the governance pillar, where the government aims to cut case backlogs by 50% using mediation and arbitration mechanisms promoted by CIARB Rwanda.
CIARB Rwanda, established 13 years ago as the Kigali branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators headquartered in the UK, provides internationally recognized certifications allowing professionals to operate globally.
Rwanda became the fifth African country to host a CIARB branch in 2020. Its members, drawn from diverse professions, make arbitration accessible wherever it is needed.
Cases referred for arbitration go through the Kigali International Arbitration Centre (KIAC), which forwards them to CIARB Rwanda. Disputes handled by CIARB Rwanda are concluded within six months, with no appeals, and service fees are paid directly by the parties receiving arbitration.
