The Deputy High Commissioner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in charge of operations, Raouf Mazou, recently announced that Rwandan refugees in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Congolese in Rwanda can now freely express their desire to be repatriated to their countries of origin.
During a meeting in Goma, the UN High Commissioner stressed that repatriation must be voluntary. He indeed specified that there are approximately 80,000 Congolese living in Rwanda and 200,000 Rwandan refugees currently living in the DRC. However, these figures are approximate since all refugees have been counted.
Following an agreement between the governments of the DRC and Rwanda, the latter have agreed that citizens of the two neighboring countries, who wish to voluntarily return to their country of origin, can do so in complete safety and dignity.
This announcement was followed by the decision to hold a technical meeting to determine the modalities of assistance to people wishing to return to their places of origin.
Tensions between the two countries have been heightened by the refugee issue. Analysts in the region believe that the security crisis that has persisted between the DRC and Rwanda for decades is due to the presence of refugees.
Thus, this new UNHCR initiative could solve part of the problem and improve relations between the two nations.
Sources:
– https://www.radiookapi.net/2023/06/02/actualite/politique/rdc-rwanda-les-refugies-volontaires-peuvent-maintenant-souscrire-au
– https://www.voaafrique.com/a/le-hcr-incite-les-refugies-rwandais-et-congolais-au-rapatriement-volontaire/5912966