US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA2010

UNCLAS KINSHASA 002010 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF, PHUM, PREL, CG, CT 
SUBJECT: UNHCR BEGINS REPATRIATION OF CONGOLESE FROM CAR 
 
REF: KINSHASA 1845 
 
1. (U) Summary. UNHCR began repatriation of Congolese 
refugees to Libenge, Equateur Province, with a ceremony on 
October 20th. The refugee agency expects to repatriate 
approximately 10,000 people to Equateur by the end of 2004. 
Minister of Interior Theophile Mbemba headed a GDRC 
delegation to the Libenge ceremony during which he stated the 
government's intention to welcome and assist the refugees. 
End Summary. 
 
UNHCR Starts Repatriation to Stable Area of DRC 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
2. (U) UNHCR officials held a ceremony in Libenge, Equateur 
Province, October 20 to launch the repatriation of Congolese 
refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR) back to 
Equateur Province. The tripartite agreement which the DRC and 
CAR signed on August 26, 2004 has allowed UNHCR to start the 
repatriation process. UNHCR expects to assist approximately 
10,000 refugees to return from CAR to Equateur, over 1,000 of 
whom will be returning to Libenge. UNHCR's goal is to 
repatriate all of these refugees by the end of the year. 
 
3. (U) UNHCR opened an office in Libenge to assist returning 
Congolese refugees with humanitarian needs. A group of about 
50 refugees who arrived in Libenge in time for the ceremony 
received blankets, cooking utensils, and food from UN staff. 
Representatives of UNICEF, UNDP and WFP were also present in 
Libenge to coordinate refugee assistance. 
 
4. (SBU) According to UNHCR officials, it is important to 
start repatriation of refugees to Equateur Province, an area 
of the DRC which has enjoyed greater stability than the east. 
Although Equateur has a poor infrastructure and a difficult 
humanitarian situation, security for civilians has improved 
significantly with the departure a substantial number of 
Congo Liberation Movement's (MLC) troops to the east 
(reftel). 
 
GDRC Minister of Interior Received Warmly 
----------------------------------------- 
 
5. (U) Interior Minister Theophile Mbemba Fundu headed a GDRC 
delegation which included provincial officials.  Mbemba was 
received warmly in Libenge, an isolated border town without 
electricity. The airport runway where the delegation landed 
was in fact only cleared of vegetation a few days before. 
(Note: Mbemba was the senior GDRC official to visit the area 
in many years. End Note.) In a speech to the Libenge 
community, Mbemba promised that the government would welcome 
returning refugees and help them reintegrate into their 
communities. 
 
Comment 
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6. (SBU) Despite the fact that Libenge and other areas of 
Northern Equateur face a difficult humanitarian situation, 
UNHCR's decision to begin repatriation of refugees is 
consistent with its mandate of assisting refugees to return 
to areas where their physical integrity will not be at risk. 
In addition, socio-economic conditions in this part of the 
DRC are probably no worse than those on the CAR side. The 
security situation in Equateur is stable and there is no 
evidence of any armed groups operating in the province, and 
civilians can travel and engage in agricultural activities 
without significant problems. UNHCR and other UN agencies and 
NGOs can ameliorate hardship conditions by coordinating 
humanitarian assistance to refugees and local communities in 
areas of return like Libenge. 
MEECE