Fatshimetrie
In the context of the refugee crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Security and Customary Affairs, Jacquemain Shabani, recently reaffirmed the commitment of the Congolese government to facilitate the voluntary return of its nationals in conditions of safety and dignity. During his intervention at the 75th session of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva, Switzerland, the Minister stressed the importance of taking into account the plight of Congolese refugees.
The figures presented by Jacquemain Shabani are alarming: more than a million Congolese refugees have found refuge mainly in neighboring countries, while more than 500,000 are still in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition, nearly one and a half million people have been newly displaced since the beginning of 2024, bringing the total number of internally displaced people to approximately 7.3 million, mainly in the eastern part of the country. These figures represent a major humanitarian crisis that impacts millions of lives.
The Minister highlighted the dramatic consequences of the armed conflicts in the region, leading to massive population displacement, human rights violations such as rape of women and girls, food insecurity, children not attending school, as well as tragic loss of life. This situation requires urgent and collective action to end this humanitarian crisis that has lasted for too long.
It is imperative that the international community realizes the urgency of the situation and commits to providing significant support to help the millions of people affected by this crisis. The Congolese authorities, for their part, must redouble their efforts to guarantee the safety and dignity of refugees and internally displaced persons, and work to end the armed conflicts that fuel this humanitarian crisis.
It is time to act, raise awareness and mobilize the necessary resources to put an end to the suffering of these millions of uprooted people. Solidarity and compassion must guide our actions to offer a better future to those who have suffered so much.