Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have signed a revised agreement aimed at facilitating and speeding up the voluntary repatriation of refugees between the two countries.
The agreement was signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during a high-level meeting that brought together the three parties to seek sustainable solutions to the refugee situation in the region.
Updated refugee figures
During the meeting, it was announced that there are currently 196,289 Rwandans in the DRC seeking asylum or registered as refugees. Meanwhile, 8,394 individuals have already returned to Rwanda since January 2025, including 2,347 who returned in 2026.
In addition, more than 3,600 Rwandans from South Kivu have expressed willingness to return voluntarily and are expected to be facilitated through the Kamanyola–Bugarama border crossing point.
Another group of over 400 people is currently staying in temporary transit centres in the Kivu region, awaiting repatriation.
On the other hand, Rwanda is hosting more than 84,456 Congolese nationals who are either refugees or asylum seekers.
Implementation of the agreement
The DRC announced that starting in October 2026, it will begin preparing designated reception areas for returnees from Rwanda, with the aim of helping them reintegrate into normal civilian life.
A new step toward lasting peace
UNHCR emphasized that the agreement represents a major step toward finding durable solutions, stressing that repatriation must be voluntary, safe, and carried out with dignity.
Rwanda was represented at the meeting by the Minister for Emergency Management, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Albert Murasira.
The new agreement is seen as a renewed hope for refugees in the Great Lakes region, as efforts continue to strengthen cooperation in pursuit of lasting peace and stability.
Rwarinda Gaston
rwandatribune.rw
