{{The second Ministerial meeting for African countries hosting Rwandan refugees held in Pretoria on April 18, 2013 made strong recommendations and commitment of all participating countries to implement the Cessation Clause for Rwanda Refugees as scheduled this year on June 30, 1013.}}
This Meeting was organized by the UNHCR in order to evaluate the progress towards the implementation Comprehensive Durable Solutions Strategy for Rwandan refugees.
It was attended by delegates from the UNHCR headquarters in Geneva, Government of Rwanda and twelve African countries hosting bigger numbers of Rwandan refugees.
Rwanda’s delegation was led by Honorable Mukantabana Seraphine, Minister of Disaster Management and refugee Affairs, H.E Vincent Karega, the Rwandan High Commissioner in South Africa and other senior officials from both MIDIMAR and MINAFFET.
The meeting was attended by delegations led by ministers responsible for refugee matters from countries hosting bigger numbers of Rwandan refugees, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, The Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Burundi, the Republic of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
During this Ministerial Meeting, Rwanda’s delegation provided all relevant information on the implementation of the Comprehensive Durable Solutions Strategy for Rwandan refugees both in Rwanda and the countries of asylum.
It also assured that Rwanda is more than ready to receive all its nationals who are willing to return.
The meeting noted that Rwanda has registered tremendous socio economic progress, and no genuine reason should justify Rwandan refugees who fall in the scope of the cessation clause to remain refugees.
However, the Government of Rwanda recognized the fact that after several years in exile, some refugees have established socio-economic ties with their host countries and approved the request by host countries to issue official Rwandan identification documents to those who may choose to be locally integrated in their respective countries of asylum.
The UNHCR appreciated the strong commitment of Rwanda, and took the opportunity to reassure that the strategy remains valid, and that the decision to bring the cessation into effect on 30 June 2013 remains unchanged.
They however indicated that like anywhere that the cessation clause has ever been declared, the implementation is going to be a process which will take sometimes before the closure of the chapter for all.
{{Progressive implementation }}
Due to different legal systems, refugee issues in different countries, numbers, and each country will chart a roadmap, in collaboration with Rwanda through bilateral arrangements, to tackle the issue regarding the Cessation Clause implementation.
Governments which have already enunciated their applicable criteria, and have already started the implementation of the cessation clause were encouraged while others which remain at initial stage were invited to imitate the examples.
In collaboration with UNHCR, Rwanda will carry on speeding up mechanisms of dialogue and sensitization of refugees in various countries of asylum, to build their confidence to ensure more voluntary repatriation to happen in the forthcoming days.
Local integration in countries of asylum is to be started but it will not be done in a collective manner, but instead, it will be conducted by analyzing applications in a case by case manner according to immigration laws of different countries.
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