The Cabinet has appointed Mukabagwiza Edda as co-chair of Rwanda’s Refugee Status Appeal Tribunal, the body responsible for reviewing appeals from refugees and asylum seekers dissatisfied with decisions of the Refugee Status Determination Committee.
The decision was made during the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at Village Urugwiro, presided over by President Paul Kagame.
Mukabagwiza Edda will co-lead the tribunal alongside Jean Damascène Rusanganwa, who previously served as Director General of Immigration and Emigration (DGIE). Other members appointed to the tribunal include Patricie Mukanyundo, Immaculée Nyirinkwaya, Joseph Rudasingwa, and Augustin Mukama, while Jean Damascène Kalinda Ndabirora has been named the tribunal’s secretary.
Mukabagwiza brings extensive leadership experience, having served as Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies, Rwanda’s ambassador to Canada and Cuba, and as Minister of Justice and Institutional Relations between 2003 and 2006.
Established in 2024, the Refugee Status Appeal Tribunal provides a mechanism to ensure fair and transparent review of appeals against refugee status decisions.
Presidential Order No. 051/01 of April 19, 2024, governs the tribunal, outlining three-year renewable terms and eligibility requirements. Members must have no convictions for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, or terrorism, and must possess expertise in refugee law, human rights, or immigration and emigration regulations.
The appointment of Mukabagwiza Edda as co-chair strengthens the tribunal’s leadership and underscores Rwanda’s commitment to protecting refugee rights through a fair and legally sound appeal process.
