|
DRC situation to affect deadline for refugee repatriation
2008-01-02 08:36:37
By Judica Tarimo
Insecurity and political instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) may force the government to reschedule the deadline for the repatriation of DRC refugees and closing down of all refugee camps.
The government had set June 30, 2008 as the deadline for the repatriation of all refugees (from Burundi and DRC), an exercise which goes concurrently with the closure of all camps in the country.
Local media recently quoted Home Affairs minister Joseph Mungai as saying that the Burundi decision to repatriate all refugees and close down camps was sealed by the tripartite partners - Burundi, Tanzania and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) -- at a meeting held in Bujumbura last month.
But experts said the plan, especially the closure of camps, would greatly affect DRC refugees, thus making the mission impossible, due to security concerns in DRC, a war-torn country in political trouble coupled with civil strive since the 1990s.
However, minister Mungai told The Guardian in an interview yesterday that the repatriation plan for all refugees, including those from the DRC, and subsequent closure of all refugee camps by the end of this financial year (June 30, 2007) would not change - if things went as planned.
``However, if security becomes tense in DRC we will be forced to halt repatriation of DRC refugees....there may be a change in the deadline for the repatriation of DRC refugees,`` added the minister.
Tripartite partners were aggressively promoting repatriation of Burundian refugees because of a conducive political atmosphere in the country.
Already, Burundian authorities have already submitted a proposal to the Tanzanian government seeking extension of the deadline so as to allow them sort out modalities for receiving and subsequent resettlement of its citizen.
On the fate of DRC refugees, Mungai said on Monday: ``The DRC government has not asked for extension of a deadline because they are not part of the tripartite partners.``
He, however, said the government and international refugee agencies were also promoting repatriation of DRC refugees, as most of them come from peaceful provinces such as Lubumbashi and South Kivu.
``The process is progressing well…groups of DRC refugees are being transferred and crossing borders back home every week. Currently, we don`t face serious difficulties as most of the DRC refugees come from peaceful provinces…so, the work (repatriation) becomes much easier,`` said Mungai.
|
