Rwanda’s Judiciary Wraps Up 109,000 Cases in 2024/25 Year

The courts received 106,254 new cases alongside 76,273 pending from the previous year. Of the concluded cases, 92,880—or 85%—were heard on the merits, while 16,312—or 15%—involved provisional detentions or bail matters.

Mukantaganzwa also highlighted progress in alternative dispute resolution and plea bargaining. Last year, 15,012 cases were resolved through mediation or agreements, including 3,186 civil, commercial, labor, and administrative cases and 11,846 criminal cases settled via plea agreements.

Chief Prosecutor Habyarimana Angelique reported that 78,489 cases were filed with the prosecution, with 75,732—or 96.4%—processed, exceeding the 96% target. Of these, 42,279 were referred to courts, while 33,453 were closed through settlements, fines, or alternative resolutions. Mediation resolved 2,004 cases, administrative fines 559, and plea agreements 11,846.

“Significant progress has been made to ensure suspects are prosecuted without unnecessary detention, while upholding justice,” Habyarimana said. From July 2024 to June 2025, the prosecution won over 93% of the 42,000 cases it handled in various courts.

Despite these achievements, 58,323 cases remained pending, including 26,862 backlogs. Mukantaganzwa noted that delays are often due to citizens’ reluctance to engage fully with the judicial process or disagreements with court decisions.

Rwanda’s judicial year runs from July 1 to June 30 annually, providing a framework for monitoring case management and judicial performance.