DR Congo and Rwanda Establish UN-Supervised Refugee Repatriation Plan
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have solidified a UN-supervised plan to facilitate the repatriation of refugees displaced by ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, reports 24brussels.
The historic agreement was unveiled on Tuesday in Kinshasa by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, as both nations work to maintain a fragile peace established by a U.S.-brokered agreement in June.
Grandi confirmed that UNHCR teams have already supervised the voluntary return of 533 Rwandan refugees. These returnees crossed through the Grande Barrière border post near Rubavu, where they were welcomed at Rwanda’s Nyarushishi Transit Centre before reintegration into local communities.
Emphasizing the necessity of ensuring voluntary repatriation, Grandi urged all involved parties to respect the principle that returns should be strictly voluntary.
In June, Human Rights Watch accused the M23 militia of forcibly expelling over 1,500 individuals, many of whom are of Rwandan origin, into Rwanda. The M23 has categorically denied these claims, asserting that no forced expulsions occurred.
This repatriation accord coincides with renewed peace talks in the DRC with the Rwanda-backed M23 group, which recently seized substantial areas in North and South Kivu. Currently, more than seven million people remain internally displaced in the region, highlighting the critical need for sustainable solutions for both refugees and internally displaced individuals.
As voluntary repatriation efforts begin, UNHCR and its partners are calling for ongoing international support to ensure safe returns, sustainable reintegration, and the protection of refugee rights.
