Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KINSHASA929
2009-10-09 12:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:
GDRC WANTS ORDERLY RETURN OF REFUGEES FROM BURUNDI
how-toVZCZCXRO6634 OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHKI #0929 2821218 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 091218Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0199 INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000929
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV CG
SUBJECT: GDRC WANTS ORDERLY RETURN OF REFUGEES FROM BURUNDI
REF: BUJUMBURA 548
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000929
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV CG
SUBJECT: GDRC WANTS ORDERLY RETURN OF REFUGEES FROM BURUNDI
REF: BUJUMBURA 548
1. (U) Minister of Communication Lambert Mende announced on
October 8 that the GDRC was temporarily closing its border
with Burundi to "avoid anarchy," as DRC refugees moved to
return to the DRC (reftel). Press reports indicated that 480
refugees were turned away attempting to cross into the DRC.
MONUC told PolCouns that as many as 1,000 people are poised
to return at the moment. Congolese officials, while
welcoming the return of their compatriots in general,
cautioned that an orderly return could only be effected
through the Burundi-DRC-UNHCR tripartite framework. South
Kivu Vice-Governor Jean Claude Kibala announced that
tripartite officials would meet as soon as possible to
organize "a dignified return" for the DRC refugees.
2. (SBU) Mohamed Toure, UNHCR Deputy Representative for
Protection told PolCouns on October 8 that UNHCR was in a
difficult situation. Legally, UNHCR cannot block refugees
from voluntarily returning home, nor can it ask a country to
close its borders. However, UNHCR would strongly recommend
against any returns to South Kivu at the moment, due to
escalating fighting between FARDC and FDLR forces. Toure
remarked that most of the refugees are Banyamulenge who want
to return to the Haut Plateau, which would require several
days walk through a conflict zone. Toure said that the best
solution would be for the refugees to wait until such time as
some sort of UNHCR convoy could be arranged to transport the
refugees home.
3. (SBU) Comment: UNHCR is correct to counsel a "go-slow"
approach. Under Kimia II military operations, there has been
increasing instability in the Uvira region just across the
Burundian border. Unprotected refugee movements through the
conflict zone would only invite exactions by the FDLR and
FARDC. End comment.
BROCK
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV CG
SUBJECT: GDRC WANTS ORDERLY RETURN OF REFUGEES FROM BURUNDI
REF: BUJUMBURA 548
1. (U) Minister of Communication Lambert Mende announced on
October 8 that the GDRC was temporarily closing its border
with Burundi to "avoid anarchy," as DRC refugees moved to
return to the DRC (reftel). Press reports indicated that 480
refugees were turned away attempting to cross into the DRC.
MONUC told PolCouns that as many as 1,000 people are poised
to return at the moment. Congolese officials, while
welcoming the return of their compatriots in general,
cautioned that an orderly return could only be effected
through the Burundi-DRC-UNHCR tripartite framework. South
Kivu Vice-Governor Jean Claude Kibala announced that
tripartite officials would meet as soon as possible to
organize "a dignified return" for the DRC refugees.
2. (SBU) Mohamed Toure, UNHCR Deputy Representative for
Protection told PolCouns on October 8 that UNHCR was in a
difficult situation. Legally, UNHCR cannot block refugees
from voluntarily returning home, nor can it ask a country to
close its borders. However, UNHCR would strongly recommend
against any returns to South Kivu at the moment, due to
escalating fighting between FARDC and FDLR forces. Toure
remarked that most of the refugees are Banyamulenge who want
to return to the Haut Plateau, which would require several
days walk through a conflict zone. Toure said that the best
solution would be for the refugees to wait until such time as
some sort of UNHCR convoy could be arranged to transport the
refugees home.
3. (SBU) Comment: UNHCR is correct to counsel a "go-slow"
approach. Under Kimia II military operations, there has been
increasing instability in the Uvira region just across the
Burundian border. Unprotected refugee movements through the
conflict zone would only invite exactions by the FDLR and
FARDC. End comment.
BROCK