The delicate question of Congolese and Rwandan refugees was at the center of discussions during the last meeting of the Council of Ministers. During this meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, Security and Customary Affairs, Peter Kazadi, presented the report of the recent tripartite meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya.
The report highlights the decision to reactivate the commitments and structures contained in the 2010 Tripartite Agreements, as well as the development of a corresponding roadmap. There is also talk of relaunching the process of voluntary repatriation of Congolese refugees living in Rwanda and Rwandan refugees living in the Democratic Republic of Congo, following the principles and modalities already agreed in the 2010 tripartite agreements.
This issue of refugees is of great importance, given the involvement of rebel groups in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda accuses the DRC of collaborating with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) to destabilize the Kigali regime. For their part, the Congolese authorities have to deal with the presence of many Rwandan refugees, in particular members of the FDLR, who have been living in the east of the country for more than two decades.
Faced with this tense situation, President Félix Tshisekedi requested an urgent tripartite meeting between the DRC, Rwanda and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in order to find a solution for the repatriation of refugees. This tripartite meeting must also include the customary authorities of the communities concerned in order to promote lasting reconciliation between them.
At the same time, a resolution will soon be adopted by the National Assembly to frame the process of repatriation of Congolese refugees present in Rwanda. This resolution aims to definitively resolve the issues raised and to achieve genuine and lasting reconciliation between the communities.
Finding a peaceful and lasting solution to the issue of Congolese and Rwandan refugees is essential to fostering stability in the region. Diplomatic efforts are ongoing, and it is hoped that concrete steps will be taken to ensure the safe and voluntary return of refugees to their country of origin.
Sources:
– Article 1: [Link article 1](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2023/07/09/democratisation-en-rdc-lunion-europeenne-soutient-des-elections-competitives-pacifiques-et-transparentes/ )
– Article 2: [Link article 2](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2023/07/09/destitution-choc-a-kinshasa-le-president-de-lassemblee-provinciale-renverse-par-un- overwhelming-vote/)
– Article 3: [Link article 3](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2023/07/09/tensions-rdc-rwanda-une-relation-explosive-dstabilise-lafrique-des-grands-lacs/)
– Article 4: [Link article 4](https://fatshimetry