US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1870

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001870 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF, PHUM, PGOV, PINS, CG, UNHCR, PRM 
SUBJECT: NEW WAVE OF BANYAMULENGE REFUGEES ATTEMPTING TO 
CROSS THE BURUNDI-DRC BORDER INTO UVIRA 
 
REF: KINSHASA 1807 
 
1. (U) Summary. A group of 1200 Banyamulenge refugees has 
gathered at the Burundi-DRC border in an attempt to cross 
into Uvira. The GDRC has kept the border closed, but an inter 
ministerial delegation plans to travel to Uvira October 8 to 
reopen the border, welcome the refugees, and coordinate 
assistance efforts with humanitarian agencies. End Summary. 
 
Banyamulenge Refugees Determined to Return Home 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
2. (SBU) Aida Mariam, deputy representative of the UN High 
Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) told poloff October 7 that 
1,200 Banyamulenge refugees had made their way over the past 
two days to the Burundi-DRC border near Uvira. These refugees 
are currently in a "no mans land" border area in Burundi, 
waiting to cross into the Congo. The Congolese border is 
currently closed and it is not expected that it will open 
until a GDRC inter ministerial mission arrives in the area on 
October 8. 
 
3. (SBU) Mariam said this new wave of Banyamulenge refugees 
had organized themselves and even found trucks for transport 
from various villages inside Burundi. She added that the 
RCD-G Vice-Governor of South Kivu claimed not to have been 
involved in encouraging this particular group of refugees to 
return. Mariam noted that while UNHCR respects the wishes of 
refugees to return home, it also wants GDRC officials to be 
on the ground to guarantee the safety of returning refugees 
and to send a clear message to the local population. 
 
GDRC to Send Inter-Ministerial Delegation to Welcome Refugees 
--------------------------------------------- ---------------- 
 
4. (SBU) Vice-Minister of Interior Paul Musafiri told poloff 
October 7 that he would travel to Uvira on October 8 with an 
inter ministerial delegation that includes an advisor to 
President Kabila, advisors to Vice-President Ruberwa, and the 
Vice-Minister of Defense for Demobilization. Musafiri said 
that upon his arrival the GDRC will open the border and 
welcome the refugees. He noted the refugees would likely go 
to an Uvira transit center for a few days and then return to 
their own villages. Musafiri indicated that he planned to 
talk to local actors in Uvira about the importance of 
welcoming the refugees and that the GDRC would also 
coordinate assistance with humanitarian agencies. Moreover, 
he explained that the GDRC would keep the border open to 
allow more orderly repatriation of refugees and to prevent 
the gathering of large groups on the border. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
5. (SBU) This new wave of Banyamulenge refugees have 
apparently organized themselves to return to the DRC without 
any assistance from UNCHR or other humanitarian agencies. It 
is possible that many of them do not want to be moved to the 
Moaro refugee camp near the Tanzanian border and may have 
feared UNHCR relocation plans. If the refugees perceive that 
they may be more exposed to attacks in Burundi, it is 
reasonable to expect that they will attempt to return home. A 
well-coordinated effort to receive the refugees by the GDRC, 
UN agencies, and other humanitarian actors, will be necessary 
to lessen the likelihood of violence against the refugees, 
and further manipulation of their return by local actors. 
MEECE