MIDIMAR Permanent Secretary, Olivier Kayumba said this on Thursday when the ministry was discussing the 2018-2019 Budget Framework Paper with the Parliamentary National Budget and Patrimony Committee.
Kayumba said that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has registered 30% of Kiziba refugees who requested to be repatriated to their mother country.
“On Kiziba problem, refugees said that they want to be repatriated, UNHCR started registration exercise to ensure whether it is true that they want to repatriate and 30% have been registered,” he said.
According to Kayumba, UNHCR says that there are some regions that have security in the DRC and will discuss with the government of Congo so that the refugees will go in secured places.
He said that the process is jointly being implemented by the UNHCR, the Government of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
MIDIMAR Minister, De Bonheur Jeanne D’Arc said that it is the right of refugees to repatriate; however, they should ensure their security.
She said that they are yet to decide on the date of repatriation, but emphasized that they are free to repatriate.
In February, Congolese refugees in Kiziba marched out of the camp and camped at UNHCR offices in Karongi District, demonstrations which turned violent and resulted into some deaths and injuries.
The refugees were demonstrating against reduced food rations.
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