The DRC has just begun negotiations to repatriate Congolese refugees settled in Rwanda, with the help of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. A mission led by Christophe Lutundula Apala, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Francophonie, will travel to Geneva to begin negotiations which will begin on May 15.
In preliminary talks, Rwanda raised the issue of Congolese refugees, saying they would number 80,000 and would be persecuted and stripped of their property. The President of the Congolese Republic, Félix Tshisekedi, already mentioned this approach last February, affirming the urgent need for a DRC-HCR-Rwanda tripartite to allow the repatriation of refugees.
The Congo will take its time to study this question in detail, in particular by asking the customary authorities to identify the refugees concerned and find the appropriate solutions for their repatriation. Moreover, various members of the presidential cabinet and experts from the Ministry of the Interior will be part of the mission, a sign of the importance attached to this issue.
Alongside this process, the National Assembly will soon adopt a resolution to govern the process of repatriation of Congolese refugees settled in Rwanda. This measure should make it possible to guarantee a fair repatriation, respectful of the rights of refugees and sustainable.
This decision marks an important step towards the diplomatic resolution of the conflict between the two countries, with a view to easing tensions and guaranteeing lasting peace and security at the regional level.