Tanzania, DRC, UNHCR begin process to facilitate voluntarily repatriation of Congolese refugees

LUBUMBASHI: THE Tanzanian government, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have agreed to begin the process of voluntarily repatriating Congolese refugees living in Tanzania who are willing to return home.

The agreement was reached during a Tripartite Commission Meeting held in Lubumbashi, where Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Ayoub Mohammed Mahmoud stressed that the return of the refugees would be guided by the principles of voluntariness, safety and dignity.

Speaking at the meeting, Ayoub said Tanzania would continue to ensure that refugees who choose to return to their country do so voluntarily, without being pressured or encouraged to return by the Tanzanian Government.

He said the repatriation process would take into account the safety and dignity of the refugees, while Tanzania would continue to uphold international principles governing refugee protection.

For refugees who are not yet ready to return to the DRC, Ayoub said Tanzania would continue providing them with protection and essential services, subject to available resources, at Nyarugusu Refugee Camp in Kigoma Region.

He also said the commencement of the voluntary repatriation process would not prevent Tanzania from continuing to receive new asylum seekers fleeing insecurity in some parts of the DRC.

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The Deputy Minister further called on DRC leaders to visit Nyarugusu Refugee Camp to meet their citizens, listen to their needs and help them maintain a sense of belonging to their country.

He said such visits should not be aimed at persuading refugees to return home, but rather at building relationships, strengthening hope and enabling refugees to obtain information about conditions in their country.

The parties also agreed to create an enabling environment for refugees who are ready to return to the DRC so that they can reunite with their families and participate in the reconstruction and development of their country.

The voluntary repatriation process is expected to be carried out jointly by the governments of Tanzania and the DRC, in cooperation with UNHCR, while ensuring the safety, dignity and voluntary decision of the refugees.