Rwanda: 700 Refugees Seeking Asylum

Kigali

Up to seven hundred and three (703) refugees from largely DR Congo and Burundi want Rwanda as their home fleeing from 'political and ethic' persecution, according to the UN refugee agency - UNHCR.

Figures from the Agency indicate that 574 have fled lawless RDC, another 119 coming in from Burundi - that is struggling to end years of war and ethnic strife. Other countries account for the remaining 10 asylum seekers.

"In most cases when people flee (their countries) they are often running from political persecution, ethnic persecution and several other factors", Ms. JoAnna Pollonais - External Relations Officer of the Agency's Kigali Office told RNA on Thursday.

"In the case of DR Congo and Burundi, these people will most likely run to the nearest place - in this case Rwanda".

Ms. Pollonais said the asylum status of the 703 have been "decided on a case by case basis" to have them determined as genuine complaints.

The figures provided to RNA by the UNHCR Office in Kigali have been released to coincide with World Refugee Day June 20 with various activities lined across the country.

In Rwanda, there is a sizeable refugee population comprised of mainly Congolese and Burundian nationals. Currently, according figures from the Agency, there is a considerable group of urban-based refugees, as well as 4 refugee camps and 2 transit centres housing 55,699 people throughout the country.

In 2008 alone, 3,307 Rwandan refugees returned home to begin the process of integration and to start a new phase of their lives. In May alone, some 555 Rwandans have returned.

Government here announced last month that it intended to national ID cards to all refugees - which would essentially avail them with rights to even seek health care and hold bank accounts.

However, DR Congo and Uganda remain the biggest recipients of Rwandan refugees holding 34,017 and 20,952 respectively. Congo-Brazzaville and Malawi are also harbouring sizable numbers.

In the years following the Genocide, some 3.2 million Rwandan refugees have returned, and UN refugee agency says it wants thousands others still hesitant and have been living in several African countries.

Genocidaires in Malawi?

Other countries where Rwandans have fled include Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Togo and Mozambique.

Interestingly, as an unlikely destination, Malawi stands out as the top recipient of Rwandans seeking asylum. There is another 1,222 who are in camps as refugees.

Some 3,555 are seeking asylum there, as some 3,280 have decided to take Uganda as their home.

In September last year, President Paul Kagame was in Malawi for a three day visit and part of his discussion with his host Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika centered on how Rwandans in that country could be repatriated.

According to African Rights - that has been tracking down Genocide fugitives - Malawi is another country where there are many Genocidaires 'especially given the close ties between the Rwandese communities in Malawi and Zambia'.

The secretary general of the DR Congo based Rwandan rebels - FDLR - in Malawi, Frodouald Ntawulikura, a former state radio journalist where he is said to have made incendiary speeches - lived for a long time in Zambia.

Refugees in Rwanda are spread in 7 camps across the country. They include Kiziba camp, Gihembe camp, Nkamira Transit Center (TC) and Nyagatare TC - all in western province neighbouring DR Congo. Others are Gihembe camp - in Northern Rwanda, Nyabiheke camp - in Eastern province.

Kigali is home to what the Agency calls urban refugees.