Rwanda: Rwanda, Uganda, UNHCR to Meet Over Refugee Issue
By Gilbert Ndikubwayezu
The New Times-Kigali
August 2, 2009
Kigali — Kigali is set to host a tripartite meeting that seeks to determine the next course of action for refugees who have not met the July 31 repatriation deadline.
The meeting that is scheduled on Thursday August 6 is expected to discuss the future of close to 15,000 Rwandan refugees who are still in Uganda in different camps.
Innocent Ngango, an official in the Ministry of Local Government in charge of refugees' repatriation, revealed that Rwanda is considering applying a "secession clause" by the end of December this year, hence putting an end to refugee status for Rwandans.
"The country is peaceful, there is no more reason for any Rwandan to become a refugee," said Ngango during a phone interview.
He said that the country has been meeting refugees in their camps urging them to come back and make their contribution to the country's reconstruction and development.
He however expressed concerns over some individuals within refugee camps who continue to mislead others by pushing them not to come back to their country for alleged security reasons.
The July 31 deadline that was set by a tripartite agreement between Rwanda, Uganda and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has reportedly moved only 5,500 refugees from their camps to Rwanda.
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posted by Mamadou Kouyate @ 8:06 AM
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