Experts from DRC, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Rwanda are converging in Kigali to discuss issues revolving around the invocation of cessation clause for Rwandan refugees on June 30, 2013.
The two— day meeting that commenced on November 26, 2013 aims at reviewing the progress on implementation of durable solutions for over 8000 former Rwandan refugees who lost their refugee status.
On the behalf of the government of the republic of Congo, Mss. Chantal Meryse Apoyolo, the Vice Secretary General in the Ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation, affirmed that the Republic of Congo will continue to engage all efforts in order to make a proper closure to the problem of former Rwandan refugees.
She commended the government of Rwanda for having put in place all necessary mechanisms to facilitate both repatriation and the acquisition of passports for those who will opt for voluntary repatriation.
The technical tripartite meeting comes as follow up to bilateral meeting held in Brazzaville on June 17-18, 2013
During that bilateral meeting, both countries had pledged to combine their efforts to ensure that the issue of Rwandan refugees affected by the cessation clause is handled in a dignified and humane manner.
While officially opening this tripartite meeting, Mr. Antoine Ruvebana, the Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs
(MIDIMAR) thanked the Government of the Republic of Congo for having declared the cessation clause on the in June this year as was recommended by the UNHCR.
“ The invocation of the cessation clause is a sign of recognition by the government of the Republic of Congo that fundamental changes regarding security, peace, reconciliation and positive socio-economic transformations have taken place in Rwanda and that all there aren’t any more reasons for Rwandans to remain in exile” said Ruvebana.
Mr. Ruvebana also reaffirmed the commitment and readiness of the government of Rwanda to receive and reintegrate all Rwandans who will opt for voluntary repatriation and to facilitate those who will opt for local integration to get Rwandan passports.
The head of delegation stressed that all Rwandan refugees affected by the cessation clause have to choose an option because the Republic of Congo will not tolerate people to illegally stay on its territory.
The two-day meeting is expected to set practical modalities regarding repatriation and local integration of former Rwandan refugees. It will also develop comprehensive strategies that will be approved by high-level meeting of both countries.
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