The conference aimed to tackle key issues related to forensic sciences, legal medicine, and new technologies applied to justice.

The official announcement of the selected host country is expected on May 29, during the IAFS strategic meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The move could bring the international scientific gathering to the African continent for the first time in the organization's history.

Founded in 1957, the IAFS is recognized as the world’s leading platform dedicated to forensic sciences. While its triennial conferences have historically been held across Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania, the event has never been hosted in Africa.

The Rwandan delegation is led by the Rwanda Forensic Institute (RFI) in close collaboration with the African Forensic Sciences Academy (AFSA), which established its continental headquarters in Kigali in 2022.

If successful, the 2029 congress will bring thousands of global researchers, forensic pathologists, scientists, investigators, magistrates, and forensic experts to Kigali.

Rwanda's bid highlights the country's rapid development in the forensic sector, its modern infrastructure, secure environment, and strong track record of hosting international conferences.

Kigali already serves as a hub for several African scientific initiatives, including hosting the inaugural AFSA conference in 2024.

The country has steadily scaled up its international presence in the field.

Rwandan officials recently participated in the IAFS 2023 conference in Sydney, Australia, followed by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) 2025 meeting in Baltimore, USA, and the European Academy of Forensic Science (EAFS) 2025 conference in Dublin, Ireland.

Beyond the host selection, the upcoming Sofia 2026 meeting will serve as a strategic venue for member countries to discuss international cooperation, the future of forensic sciences, and the reinforcement of scientific capacities across Africa.

As a specialized institution for forensic sciences and medico-legal analysis, the RFI supports criminal investigations through DNA analysis, forensic medicine, and victim identification to aid public security.

The institute also works to build national justice capacities by training professionals and strengthening forensic systems across the country.