By Kulihoshi M | Provincial Coordinator of North Kivu
Advocating for the closure of the Refugee Transit Center in Goma, North Kivu the Democratic Republic of Congo
Another step forward in our struggle for the protection of Rwandan Refugees in the Democratic Republic of Congo, this is the current advocacy to close the CCLK Refugee Transit Center located in Kyeshero, Goma Division, and North Kivu. This center is the only one in the world where refugees are stored before they are sent to Rwanda, and remember the Democratic Republic of Congo is the only country that sends refugees back to Rwanda in the world despite all evidences about the risks which they face once in Rwanda, including military recruitment.
In December 2024 we embarked on a three weeks field work in order to understand how things are operated in this center, we went to the center but we were denied entry, we held meetings with local leaders and key refugees on how best we can advocate for its closure. And lastly we published our findings in social media and in our website which attracted the reactions of decision makers up to the national level. In the process UNHCR together with CNR started threats and intimidations, and quickly they called for a meeting in which various security services were invited and this alone helped so many actors to get informed about this center. Efforts are being made to have it closed and that is our objective. Once that center is closed then we shall end completely the forced repatriation of Rwandan refugees and the promote their full identification, advocate for well- known refugees camps and put in place relief towards them as part of their international protection which they lost over the years.
Estimated number of Rwandan refugees in DRC
The exact number of Rwandan refugees in DRC is not known because they have never been identified, but we estimate that they may be more than 4million people in the whole country. However Rwanda calls them negative forces and should be repatriated even by force a perception which is not true as most of them are young people born in DRC, women and elderly people who are not a threat to Rwanda.
Challenges
In order to promote the protection of Rwandan refugees in DRCongo we are facing three major challenges,
Lack of funding: For the last two years we have not been able to raise funds for refugees because they are not known, in most cases many people have never heard about refugees in the Democratic Republic of Congo, yet they are there,
Lack of support from UNHCR: Instead of working towards the protection of refugees especially Rwandan refugees, UNHCR has been part of the criminalization policy of refugees and up to now UNHCR believes that the only solution towards these refugees is to send them back to Rwanda, and this has been done despite the information available that they do not often stay in Rwanda,
Wars and insecurity: Generally North Kivu and South Kivu Provinces where live a big number of Rwandan refugees are often times targeted by Rwanda security services and wars backed by Rwanda which renders to difficult our efforts towards the protection of refugees,
Conclusion
We still hold on our conviction that DRC has better opportunities which favor the protection of refugees and these opportunities should be capitalized, that is why we are here seeking for your support in order to do so.
Thanks
By Kulihoshi M | Provincial Coordinator of North Kivu
By Kulihoshi M | Provincial Coordinator of North Kivu
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