In a significant step towards regional stability, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of refugees. The pledge came Thursday at the conclusion of a high-level ministerial meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The parties endorsed a 2025-2026 roadmap for refugee return and reintegration. A key immediate action is the expedited repatriation of 600 Rwandan refugees currently in Goma, eastern DRC – a city under the control of the M23 rebel group. A joint communique emphasized that refugee returns are “crucial to peace and post-conflict recovery” in the Great Lakes region.
Building on Fragile Peace
The tripartite meeting follows recent diplomatic breakthroughs:
The June 27 peace agreement between DRC and Rwanda.
Last week’s declaration of principles between Kinshasa and M23 signed in Doha.
UNHCR welcomed the decisions, stating on X: “We stand ready to work with all parties to create conditions that allow refugees to choose to return home in safety and dignity.”
Operational Priorities
The agreement outlines critical next steps:
Identity verification of returnees.
Cross-border coordination mechanisms.
Reintegration support programs.
Donor engagement to fund operations.
The Scale of Displacement
The urgency is underscored by staggering UN statistics (as of April 30):
517,800+ refugees and 1,400 asylum-seekers hosted in DRC (mostly in volatile eastern provinces).
Over 7 million internally displaced within DRC (>5 million in the east alone).
139,000+ individuals fled to neighboring countries since January 2025.
Challenges Ahead
Successful implementation faces hurdles, particularly ensuring safe passage from M23-held territories like Goma and securing sustained international funding. The tripartite framework marks a critical diplomatic effort to translate recent peace gains into tangible humanitarian solutions for one of Africa’s most protracted displacement crises.
