Safety in Rwanda: what overland travellers should know
Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 9 September 2026.
Safety
- Border districts to avoid — Relations with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi have worsened sharply and the M23 group has taken the main towns of North and South Kivu. The ministry advises against going to the border areas with those two countries: the districts of Musanze, Nyabihu, Rubavu, Rutsiro, Karongi, Nyamasheke, Rusizi, Gisagara, Nyanza, Bugesera, Ngoma and Kirehe.
- Kamaniola crossing — The Kamaniola crossing on the Rwanda–DRC border works only intermittently because of continuing clashes.
- Crime — The crime rate is relatively low, but bag-snatching and robberies against foreign tourists are reported. Avoid moving at night and do not display valuables.
- Terrorism — Islamist extremist activity has revived and cells have been broken up in Rwanda and Uganda, including thirteen people arrested in Kigali on 1 October 2021 who were planning an attack on a supermarket or other public place. Attacks are considered possible at airports, transport networks, shopping centres and crowded places in the capital and other cities.
Before you rely on this
This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 9 September 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Rwanda before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.
Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 9 September 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.