Africa-Press – Rwanda. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has called for lasting peace and security in eastern DR Congo to pave the way for the safe repatriation of Congolese refugees currently sheltering in Rwanda.
Grandi made the appeal on Friday, August 29, during a visit to Nkamira Transit Camp in Rubavu District, which is hosting more than 3,000 Congolese who recently fled renewed fighting.
At the camp, Grandi, along with the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management, Aristarque Ngoga and district authorities visited various facilities within and spoke with refugees and partners.
His visit comes following discussions with President Paul Kagame which “focused on strengthening Rwanda–UNHCR collaboration, including Rwanda’s leading role in prioritising refugee protection, integration, and long-term solutions”, according to the president’s office.
Speaking to journalists after touring the camp, Grandi explained that his visit to Rwanda, which followed a stop in DR Congo, was in response to the Rwanda-DR peace agreement, signed on Friday, June 27, 2025, in Washington, and the Doha Declaration of Principles.
“The hope is that if this peace process proceeds in a positive manner, we can find a solution for these refugees,” he stated while briefing the media. “We all know peace and security in Congo is a complicated issue. I just spoke to them [the refugees], and they all told me the same thing, ‘we want to go back if there is peace and security.'”
Congolese refugees at the camp expressed their desire to return home, but only if violence ends and security is established in eastern DR Congo.
“We want to return home, where we were born,” said Gashati Nyanjwenge, 41, who was disabled by the FDLR while fighting for his cows in Masisi territory.
“We recommend increased efforts in addressing the ongoing wars in Congo so that we can return home,” added Anatalie Mukankusi, 75, who has been at the camp for three years fleeing violence in Masisi.
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