From May 25th to May 30th, 2026, the global forensic science community converged in Sofia, Bulgaria, for IAFS 2026. For Team Rwanda, which included a delegation from the African Forensic Sciences Academy (AFSA),the Rwanda Forensic Institute (RFI) and others, it was an unforgettable week of exchanging knowledge, building relationships, and showcasing the world-class scientific ecosystems thriving across our continent.

Guided by our core philosophy, “Science As, Our Compass,” we traveled to Sofia with a clear mission: to actively shape the future of international forensic science. Looking back at the six-day event, we are incredibly proud of the impact we and other Africans made.

The #MeetInRwanda Experience

From day one, the #MeetInRwanda exhibition booth became a vibrant hub of energy on the conference floor. We didn’t just want to hand out brochures; we wanted to create genuine, human connections.

We fueled the global dialogue by serving up premium Rwandan coffee fittingly named “Question Everything“ by Question Coffee, a nod to the very foundation of the scientific method. We had profound discussions with international colleagues about rigorous methodologies and systems engineering. To keep the momentum high, we also ran a daily spot prize draw, sharing smiles and celebrating with brilliant minds from across the globe (including some wonderful moments caught on camera with winners from Turkey, Finland and beyond!).

Team Rwanda Taking the Stage 

While the conversations at the booth were fantastic, taking the stage was where our vision truly came to life. We were honored to have our leadership and esteemed colleagues share their expertise with the global community.

Our President, Dr Antonel OLCKERS, delivered an impactful presentation on “A Systems Engineering Approach to DNA Backlogs”, setting a powerful tone for our delegation. We were equally privileged to hear from our Vice-President, Prof. Mehdi BEN KHALIL, who chaired the “Future of Forensic Sciences I” session, further showcasing the incredible depth of knowledge within our network.

The Africa Session

During the highly anticipated Africa Session, we demonstrated that forensic science in Africa is not just listening to global discourse, we are leading the discourse on Africa on the global stage  Two keynotes were delivered that showcased success in Africa on the wider forensic science landscape, both in terms of service and forensic science frameworks. 

Dr Charles KARANGWA (Rwanda, Director General of the RFI) delivered a keynote on the “Determinants Of Implementing An Independent And Holistic Forensic Science Model In Africa: The Rwanda Case Study.” He showcased the incredible path of building an internationally competitive service from the ground up.

Dr Luchenga Adam MACHELENG’ANGA (Zambia) via proxy delivered a presentation on ”Zambia’s Model for Building a National Forensic System, A statutory, institutional, fiscal, and workforce approach to forensic system-building”. 

In additional several representatives from various African countries had speaking slots to share the forensic science landscape in their own countries: 

Ms Mercy AGEYAPONG (Ghana), Chief Superintendent of Police, gave an outline of how forensic science is structured in Ghana and the number of cases they deal with annually. She stressed the type of resources needed and highlighted that recruitment remains a challenge, and that a holistic audit for the different fields are needed. She stressed the importance of having an institutional database for experts, and was delighted to note that such an “Expert Database” is not only a high priority for AFSA but that we are already working on such a portal.

Air Commodore Kedar THAAKAR (Uganda), represented the Campus of the National Forensic Science University of India) and spoke about the opportunities and challenges in Uganda in terms of training, and highlighted the aspects of infrastructure, funding and professionalisation of forensic science.

Associate Professor Maha SHIMI (Tunisia), Forensic Medicine Department, Military Hospital of Tunis,  highlighted the structural framework in Tunisia.She discussed the opportunity that the DNA database affords to Tunisia such as more efficient processing of cases. She also highlighted that the most burning issue in her country is currently handling of DVI cases due to their geographic borders and the influx of the unidentified.They have formed a collaboration with another entity to develop standardised guidelines and procedures as well as national data sharing. She stressed that forensic science is not only about solving crime, but is a moral duty. 

Someone from Nigeria highlighted the vast territory of Nigeria and the challenges that it holds. It was  also emphasised that there is a need for more medicolegal resources and that although military forensic pathologists are present, the amounts are not sufficient to serve their vast territory.

Mr Daud NGASA (Tanzania) emphasised the silo approach that, as in many other countries, also exists in his country. It complicates the effective handling of cases. He spoke about the Tanzania biobank and also their distribution of forensic science services in the different regions of the country. He called on AFSA to facilitate working groups, and was delighted to hear that AFSA will start to roll out working groups soon. He also mentioned that the skills Tanzania, like many other countries, currently lack are bioinformatics and AI. 

Ms Jackie KARACHI (Kenya) shared her experience from the perspective of a product supplier in our field, based in Kenya and highlighted several aspects of importance from a Tanzanian perspective, e.g. that forensic science is not always nationally prioritised and that there is a constraint in resources. She informed the meeting about recent upgrades in Kenya’s forensic science services and a new project to create a biobank. Similar to other speakers she highlighted the need for affordable training and access to forensic science courses at Universities.  She also highlighted the fact that GBV and in particular femicide is a huge challenge in Kenya. 

Nassim MACHER (Algeria), outlined the needs and challenges they face as well as informed the meeting about their current status of forensic science in Algeria. 

Looking Ahead to 2029 and Beyond

We went to Sofia with a bold ambition: to bring this incredible community to Kigali by hosting the next conference in 2029. While we put forward a passionate and powerful bid, the honor ultimately went to Brazil and we congratulate . Helio Buchmüller and the entire Brazilian delegation!  

Even though we did not win the bid (this time), our spirit remains absolutely unchanged. The connections we made, the knowledge we shared, and the overwhelmingly positive response to the “Rwanda Standard” proved everything we needed to know. The African forensic ecosystem is strong, globally connected, and continuously moving forward.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the #MeetInRwanda booth, attended our sessions, and shared our vision. The exhibition hall may be closed, but the real work continues. 

Towards Advancing Forensic Science in Africa