ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA — In a significant diplomatic breakthrough for the Great Lakes region, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has officially agreed to begin identifying safe areas for the voluntary return of Congolese refugees currently residing in Rwanda. The highly anticipated repatriation process is slated to commence in October 2026.
The breakthrough agreement was brokered during a high-level tripartite ministerial meeting held in Addis Ababa, which brought together senior government delegations from Rwanda and the DRC, alongside representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The summit concluded with the signing of a joint communiqué, officially endorsed by Rwanda’s Minister in Charge of Emergency Management, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Albert Murasira; the DRC’s Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Shabani Lukoo Bihango Jacquemain; and senior UNHCR delegates.
While large-scale repatriations of Congolese refugees from Rwanda have not yet occurred, regional experts view this agreement as a crucial foundational step toward creating the necessary conditions for their safe return. Starting this October, DRC authorities will map out priority zones designated for voluntary resettlement. The selection of these areas will be heavily guided by localized surveys conducted among the refugee populations in Rwanda, coupled with security and logistical intelligence provided by Rwandan authorities.
All three parties forcefully reaffirmed that any repatriation must remain strictly voluntary, safe, dignified, and rooted in informed consent. The UNHCR has pledged continuous support for the initiative, which operates under the established framework of the 2010 Tripartite Agreement and the ambitious 2025–2026 Road Map.
According to data presented at the summit, Rwanda currently hosts approximately 84,456 Congolese refugees and asylum seekers.
During the talks, officials noted that progress has been comparatively swifter regarding the return of Rwandan refugees from the DRC. Since January 2025, an estimated 8,394 Rwandan refugees have successfully returned home, including 2,347 during the first half of 2026 alone. Authorities remain optimistic, targeting a total of 10,000 Rwandan returns by the end of this year.
The joint communiqué highlighted refugee repatriation not merely as a humanitarian necessity, but as a cornerstone for long-term solutions for displaced populations. Furthermore, the initiative is seen as a vital contribution to broader peacebuilding efforts intrinsically linked to the ongoing Rwanda-DRC peace process.
To maintain momentum, the parties agreed to deploy specialized technical teams to monitor the roadmap’s implementation. These teams will pay particular attention to the comprehensive reintegration support required for returning refugees, which encompasses housing, access to basic public services, and sustainable livelihood opportunities in the areas of return.
Recognizing the immense financial and logistical scale of the operation, the ministers issued an urgent appeal to international development partners and global donors. They are requesting increased funding for sustainable reintegration programs, with a specific focus on the volatile eastern DRC, where the majority of the returnees are expected to resettle.
While this latest agreement injects new hope into resolving one of Africa’s longest-running refugee crises, officials cautioned that actual, on-the-ground returns will ultimately depend on the stabilization of conditions within the DRC and the personal willingness of individual refugees to make the journey home.
