The National Public Prosecution Authority say that 72.8 percent of all crimes in Rwanda are committed by people aged 30 and below. The figures were revealed by Prosecutor General Aimable Havugiyaremye on Monday, September 4, during an event organised by the judiciary to mark the end of the 2023 judicial year and the beginning of a new one.
Authorities say, the rise in statistical data is attributed to improved capacity, enhanced capabilities, and a growing number of investigators. Consequently, this has resulted in the discovery of concealed and unreported crimes.
"We will continue to work with other institutions to implement various measures so that these young people get away with crime,” he said.
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In Rwanda, youth are defined as the population aged from 16 to 30 years. According to the 2022 national census, the youth constitute 27.1 percent (3.6 million) of the total population of the country.
There are slightly more female youths (1.8 million) than male ones (1.76 million).
Meanwhile, in June this year, Solina Nyirahabimana, the Minister of State in charge of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, revealed that the first six months of 2023 registered the highest crime rate compared to the previous five years.
She said that 84,453 crimes were investigated by the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) during that period, a number that was already higher than the 78,373 that were registered in the entire 2022.
RIB, in explanation of the numbers, cited its enhanced investigative capacity as the reason behind the continuous rise in the crime statistics in the country.
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"The increase in statistics is a result of enhanced capacity, capability, and an increase in the number of investigators. This has led to the detection of concealed and unreported crimes," Thierry Murangira, the Spokesperson of RIB said in June.
He also attributed the upward trend of crime statistics to the fact that Rwandans have continued to develop the behaviour of reporting crimes.
"The high level of detection and public trust has encouraged the reporting of all offenses, including minor ones. Additionally, enhanced international cooperation in information sharing and joint operations have been instrumental in combating cross-border crimes," he said.
According to RIB, the top ten offenses in Rwanda include theft (predominantly simple theft), assault or battery, drug abuse, defilement, use of threats, harassment of spouses, breach of trust, fraud, damaging or plundering of trees, crops, or agricultural tools, and forgery.