The Government of Rwanda has facilitated a total of 1607 refugees to return home after failing to abide by laws regulating refugees.
The refugees who recently crossed the border to Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo had refused to abide by laws and obligations regulating refugees in Rwanda, citing religious beliefs.
Accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR) and the High Commissioner for Refugees (HCR), all refugees arrived at Nemba border at 8:00am and were registered before crossing to Burundi.
On Saturday, according to MIDIMAR, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Community had written to Burundian government telling them that the refugees will be repatriated back.
At the border no Burundian official was present to receive them, only border officials and Police Officer deployed there were available.
MIDIMAR Permanent Secretary, Olivier Kayumba said that all refugees from Gashora were sent home and they remain with those hosted in Nyanza based transit center and Nyarushishi in Rusizi District.
On Thursday, Police had arrested 33 refugees who were inciting others to reject the assistance. Among them 31 were from Gashora transit centre.
Kayumba said that those who had been arrested were also released and repatriated.
According to Kayumba, after refusing to abide by laws, refugees chose to return in their country.
Early this month, over 2500 Burundian refugees entered in the country from the Democratic Republic of Congo. They refused all food assistance processed from industries.
Also the refugees declined physical identification, treatment and vaccination.
On Saturday, MIDIMAR, the United Nations refugee Agency (UNCHR), The Ministry of Health (MoH), The World Health Organization (WHO) and World Food Program (WFP) jointly warned the refugees to abide by laws regulating refugees if they want to be granted refugee status in Rwanda.
