Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KIGALI262
2009-04-30 13:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kigali
Cable title:
"REPATRIATE OR INTEGRATE" - BURUNDIAN REFUGEES IN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLGB #0262 1201320 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 301320Z APR 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6041 INFO RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 0442 RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA 0540 RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM 1350 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2136 RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 0691 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0455 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 1468 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0718 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 2074 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0318 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000262
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF RW
SUBJECT: "REPATRIATE OR INTEGRATE" - BURUNDIAN REFUGEES IN
RWANDA GIVEN TWO CHOICES
Classified By: DCM Sim for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000262
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF RW
SUBJECT: "REPATRIATE OR INTEGRATE" - BURUNDIAN REFUGEES IN
RWANDA GIVEN TWO CHOICES
Classified By: DCM Sim for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) Representatives from the Governments of Rwanda (GOR)
and Burundi (GOB) and the United Nations High Commission for
Refugees (UNHCR) held a tripartite meeting in Kigali on April
22 to discuss the repatriation of the 2,024 Burundian
refugees currently residing in the Kigeme Camp in Rwanda's
Nyamagabe District. In the communique issued following the
meeting, the participants reiterated their desire that the
refugees' repatriation be voluntary, and take place under
conditions of "security and dignity." Citing the improved
security situation in Burundi as justification for the
commencement of voluntary repatriation, the communique called
for the closure of Kigeme camp by May 31, 2009. The
communique offered a timeline of activities ahead of the
closure, including an information campaign to encourage
refugees to resettle voluntarily and the issuance of small
grants and support packages to assist them. A delegation of
officials from the meeting visited Kigeme on April 23 to
relay the outcome to the refugees, and to inform them of
their options - repatriate, or integrate locally.
2. (C) In a separate meeting with EmbOffs April 23, UNHCR
Country Representative Annette Nyekan expressed some
reservations about the final outcome of the repatriation
effort, saying the GOR was not addressing sufficiently some
concerns of camp inhabitants. Given the fundamental
principle of voluntary repatriation, she said GOR officials
would not let Burundian refugees who did not agree to
voluntarily repatriate or integrate locally transfer to other
camps in Rwanda. Nyekan said she would propose they be
transferred to one of the two currently empty refugee transit
centers in Rwanda as an intermediate measure. Otherwise, she
said, "it would be a forced return," for those who do not
chose to integrate. She also noted some camp residents have
unrealistic expectations of resettlement in western
countries.
3. (SBU) Comment. The GOR, the GOB, and UNHCR seem to be in
agreement that the Burundian refugees should either return to
Burundi or settle in Rwanda. The imminent closure of the
Kigeme camp, which opened in 1995 and holds some refugees who
originally fled Burundi in 1972, may be the necessary step to
encourage their repatriation. For some Burundians, however,
the voluntary return will be a reluctant one. End comment.
SYMINGTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF RW
SUBJECT: "REPATRIATE OR INTEGRATE" - BURUNDIAN REFUGEES IN
RWANDA GIVEN TWO CHOICES
Classified By: DCM Sim for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) Representatives from the Governments of Rwanda (GOR)
and Burundi (GOB) and the United Nations High Commission for
Refugees (UNHCR) held a tripartite meeting in Kigali on April
22 to discuss the repatriation of the 2,024 Burundian
refugees currently residing in the Kigeme Camp in Rwanda's
Nyamagabe District. In the communique issued following the
meeting, the participants reiterated their desire that the
refugees' repatriation be voluntary, and take place under
conditions of "security and dignity." Citing the improved
security situation in Burundi as justification for the
commencement of voluntary repatriation, the communique called
for the closure of Kigeme camp by May 31, 2009. The
communique offered a timeline of activities ahead of the
closure, including an information campaign to encourage
refugees to resettle voluntarily and the issuance of small
grants and support packages to assist them. A delegation of
officials from the meeting visited Kigeme on April 23 to
relay the outcome to the refugees, and to inform them of
their options - repatriate, or integrate locally.
2. (C) In a separate meeting with EmbOffs April 23, UNHCR
Country Representative Annette Nyekan expressed some
reservations about the final outcome of the repatriation
effort, saying the GOR was not addressing sufficiently some
concerns of camp inhabitants. Given the fundamental
principle of voluntary repatriation, she said GOR officials
would not let Burundian refugees who did not agree to
voluntarily repatriate or integrate locally transfer to other
camps in Rwanda. Nyekan said she would propose they be
transferred to one of the two currently empty refugee transit
centers in Rwanda as an intermediate measure. Otherwise, she
said, "it would be a forced return," for those who do not
chose to integrate. She also noted some camp residents have
unrealistic expectations of resettlement in western
countries.
3. (SBU) Comment. The GOR, the GOB, and UNHCR seem to be in
agreement that the Burundian refugees should either return to
Burundi or settle in Rwanda. The imminent closure of the
Kigeme camp, which opened in 1995 and holds some refugees who
originally fled Burundi in 1972, may be the necessary step to
encourage their repatriation. For some Burundians, however,
the voluntary return will be a reluctant one. End comment.
SYMINGTON