Rwandan President Paul Kagame Hosts Forensic Officials at Inaugural AFSA Conference

AAFS President Christopher "Kip" Thompson recently attended the inaugural conference of the African Forensic Sciences Academy (AFSA) that took place in Kigali, Rwanda. He was joined by several members of the Academy as official delegates of the International Outreach Education Program. The focus of this conference was the forensic science ecosystem in Africa. It aimed to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing among professionals to improve forensic practices across the continent, while tackling the unique challenges faced by African nations — particularly in the justice area. The event brought together forensic science professionals and experts from across the world.

The conference was officially opened by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Rwanda, Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, who emphasized the important role of forensic science in delivering fair and equitable justice. He highlighted Rwanda's progress, pointing out that the integration of forensic science in the judicial processes has enhanced the effectiveness of the justice system, helping to ensure that cases are resolved based on robust scientific evidence.