Talks are continuing between the DRC, Rwanda and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on the repatriation of refugees living in Rwanda and the DRC, UNHCR reports.
The announcement was made by UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner Gillian Truns over the weekend during his visit to Goma in North Kivu.
For the UNHCR, these refugees who have fled their places of origin on both sides, will be able to return voluntarily at the appropriate time and in compliance with international principles of repatriation.
“Tripartite talks are continuing on this subject between the UNHCR, Rwanda and the DRC”, indicated to the press, the assistant high commissioner of the UNHCR in charge of operations Raouf Mazou.
According to the UNHCR, more than one million Congolese refugees are in neighboring countries while more than five thousand foreign refugees are in the DRC.
However, at least eighty thousand Congolese are refugees in Rwanda. Most are from Masisi and Rutshuru territory. They have left in waves for a decade fleeing various events, he said.
Delegations from UNHCR, Rwanda and the DRC will meet this month in Nairobi, Kenya, to discuss technical arrangements to support those wishing to return to their countries of origin, on both sides. explained the permanent secretary of the National Commission for Refugees (CNR) Éric Mukangila.
“The two governments had agreed to meet in Kenya in Nairobi in 30 days so that the experts could draw up a roadmap that would lead to the establishment of mechanisms that will allow the start of repatriations. We have agreed that this meeting will take place on June 26, 2023 in Nairobi,” said Mukangila.
However, the permanent secretary of the CNR deplored in particular the insufficiency of the means allocated by the government to its structure to truly fulfill its mission.
