The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) agreed Thursday on a two‑year plan to restart voluntary refugee returns, following recent accords aimed at easing tensions in eastern Congo.
In a joint communiqué signed in Addis Ababa, Congolese Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani, Rwandan Ambassador Charles Karamba and UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations Raouf Mazou endorsed the 2025‑2026 Tripartite Technical Working Group Road Map on Voluntary Repatriation and Reintegration. The document sets milestones, responsibilities and timelines drafted during preparatory meetings on July 22–23.
The talks build on the June 27 Washington peace deal between Kinshasa and Kigali and the July 19 Doha declaration between Congo and M23 rebels. M23, which remains central to the conflict in the east, now holds swathes of territory, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu seized earlier this year.
The parties pledged to fast‑track the return of some 600 Rwandan refugees currently in Goma, step up community consultations, and explore ways to resume broader returns envisioned under the Doha declaration. They also committed to inclusive reintegration programmes and underscored that durable returns are essential for peace and recovery in Congo and the wider Great Lakes region.
“The situation and needs of internally displaced persons should also be taken into consideration,” the statement said, reaffirming UNHCR’s role as a neutral and humanitarian actor charged with protecting refugees and finding lasting solutions.
Regular technical meetings will continue under the Tripartite Mechanism, with ministers set to reconvene in six months to review progress and issue guidance.