US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1639

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KINSHASA 001639 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA - MMARX, IMACNAIRN, MSHIRLEY 
AID/W FOR DCHA/FFP - JBRAUSE, NCOX, TMCRAE 
AID/W FOR DCHA/OTI - GGOTTLIEB, AMARTIN 
AID/W FOR AFR - KO'DONNELL 
NAIROBI FOR USAID/OFDA/ARO - JMYER 
NAIROBI FOR USAID/FFP - PFESSENDEN, ADEPREZ 
ROME FOR USUN FODAG - TLAVELLE 
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH 
 
E.O. 12958; NA 
TAGS: EAID, PREF, PGOV, PHUM, CG 
SUBJECT: RETURN OF DRC REFUGEES FROM TANZANIA TO SOUTH 
         KIVU 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (U) OFDA Rep Victor Bushamuka visited Baraka and Fizi 
from August 22 to 26 to assess the situation of returning 
DRC refugees from Tanzania. Fizi political leaders 
unilaterally decided in early August to send boats to 
Tanzania to bring refugees back to South Kivu at a rate of 
5,000 per week so that they could participate in the 
upcoming elections. To humanitarians, this news was 
alarming as the area has limited logistical capacity to 
support a large influx of returnees. Fortunately, from 
early August to September 3, only 250 refugees were 
reported to have returned using the boats. The low turnout 
was attributed to the fact that many refugee families were 
unable to afford the transport cost from camps to the port 
in Tanzania and others are still worried about security in 
their areas of origin. The DRC and Tanzanian governments 
and UNHCR have also decided to start assisting voluntary 
repatriation to South Kivu on October 15 at the rate of 
2,400 people per week. Humanitarians in the area believe 
that conditions in Fizi are not yet ready for returns in 
large numbers, particularly as significant work must be 
done before October. They also question, however, whether 
large numbers of refugees will respond to the new offer. 
END SUMMARY 
 
---------- 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
2. (U) From August 22 to 26, OFDA Rep Victor Bushamuka 
visited Baraka and Fizi to assess the situation of 
returning refugees from Tanzania. During the visit, the 
OFDA Rep met with UNHCR officials, Action Against Hunger 
(AAH) staff, representatives of other international 
organizations including ACTED and ATLAS Logistics, and 
local Red Cross officials who are currently working in the 
area. OFDA Rep also met with recent returnees and local 
populations in Baraka and Fizi centers in the territory of 
Fizi. 
 
3. (U) Fizi is the southernmost territory of South Kivu 
situated about 250 km south of Bukavu on the shores of 
Lake Tanganika. The population of Fizi is dominated by the 
Bembe ethnic group, though there are also concentrations 
of Tutsi Banyamulenge in the high plateau of the 
territory. During the war periods, the majority of the 
Bembe population fled to Tanzania, while the Banyamulenge 
took refuge in Burundi and Rwanda. Following the August 
13, 2004 massacre of 162 mainly Tutsi Banyamulenge 
refugees in Gatumba, Burundi, MONUC and other humanitarian 
organizations assisted the Banyamulenge refugees in 
Burundi to return to their areas in Uvira and Fizi 
territories. The estimated 152,000 refugees from Fizi and 
Baraka believed to be mainly ethnically Bembe are still 
living in camps in Tanzania, presumably waiting to be 
assisted to return. Small and spontaneous returns of 
refugees from Tanzania have continuously been observed in 
Fizi territory since 2004. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
Voter Registration Used to Stimulate Refugees' Return 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
4. (U) In preparation for the 2006 elections, the voter 
registration process has started in many parts of the DRC. 
Although officially scheduled to start August 22 in South 
Kivu, voter registration had not yet begun when the OFDA 
Rep visited Baraka and Fizi. Bembe political leaders fear 
losing control of Fizi to Banyamulenge if refugees in 
Tanzania do not come back in time to register. As a 
result, Bembe leaders have recently increased pressure on 
the DRC government and have increased appeals to 
humanitarians for immediate repatriation assistance to 
refugees from Tanzania. In addition, local officials in 
Baraka and Fizi imposed a tax of $5 to farmers and $10 to 
INGO staff per month to contribute to the effort of 
facilitating the return of refugees from Tanzania. 
According to the local population and INGO staff contacted 
by the OFDA Rep, this fundraising campaign has not 
succeeded as most people have been unable to comply. 
 
5. (U) According to UNHCR staff in Baraka, a team of Bembe 
leaders went to Tanzania in mid-July to try to persuade 
refugees to come back.  The strategy used by the team was 
to create fear in refugees by highlighting possible 
consequences if they fail to return for voter 
registration. Refugees were told that they would lose 
control of their territory to Banyamulenge if they do not 
participate in the upcoming elections. Refugees were also 
warned that failing to register would automatically lead 
to their losing Congolese citizenship as they would not 
receive the identity card that is given after voter 
registration. (Note: Independent Electoral Commission 
President Malu Malu subsequently went to the Fizi/Baraka 
area, and to the camps in Tanzania, to correct these kinds 
of reports and convey correct information.) Some refugees 
told the Bembe leaders in Tanzania that they have been 
contemplating their return since last year, but lack of 
transportation has prevented them from doing so. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
Private Initiatives to Facilitate Refugee Returns 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
6. (U) Mrs. Shanila Mwanza, a parliamentarian from Fizi 
territory, rented four boats in early August to assist 
refugees' return. The rented boats had a combined capacity 
of transporting 5,000 people per week. The boats left the 
DRC for Kigoma in the second week of August and the first 
group of returnees was expected within the following week. 
To humanitarians, the possibility of sudden mass returns 
of refugees to Baraka and Fizi was alarming as the area 
had limited logistical capacity to absorb large numbers of 
returnees. Fortunately, by September 3 only 250 refugees 
had been reported to have returned to Fizi territory using 
the provided boats. It is reported that three boats remain 
in Kigoma waiting for volunteer returnees. 
 
7. (U) Recent returnees contacted by the OFDA Rep said 
that the low turnout of returnees was due to the fact that 
most refugee families could not afford the transportation 
cost from the camps to the port. Kigoma port is about 160 
km from Nyarugusu camp and 80 to 90 Km from Lugufu 1 and 2 
camps, respectively. The average transport cost from camps 
to Kigoma port is about $10 per person, which is out of 
reach for many refugee families. Other returnees pointed 
out that many refugees in Tanzania are still worried about 
security in their areas of origin. Reports of field crops 
being harvested or looted by soldiers that circulate in 
refugee camps have also played a major role in families 
deciding not to return. In addition, refugees who have 
learned that their houses or entire villages have been 
destroyed are less eager to return. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
UNHCR Assisted Repatriation Set to Start October 15 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
8. (U) The first of the 152,000 Congolese refugees in the 
three camps in Tanzania are scheduled to be assisted to 
voluntarily head back to South Kivu beginning October 15. 
The decision to repatriate refugees was taken at a 
tripartite commission meeting between the DRC and 
Tanzanian governments and UNHCR in Kinshasa on September 
8. The Congolese delegation at the meeting assured the 
group that all destinations in South Kivu will have 
adequate security for repatriation by September 30. The 
Tanzanian delegation also pledged to provide all necessary 
support to the return process. Both governments and UNHCR 
appealed to donors for funds to support the repatriation 
activity. The meeting recommended having trial movements 
before the actual start of repatriation to evaluate the 
logistical capacities and assistance needs. Although the 
tripartite meeting did not specify the planned 
repatriation rate per week, the head of the UNHCR office 
in Baraka has asked the humanitarians in the area to 
prepare for a repatriation rate of 2,400 people per week. 
 
9. (U) Humanitarian organizations in the area have been 
expecting and preparing for mass returns of DRC refugees 
from Tanzania since last year. Most of the humanitarian 
actors admitted being tired of repeatedly being asked to 
prepare for mass returns that never happen. They also said 
that the process of waiting has greatly affected their 
program planning. Despite these complaints, the 
humanitarian community in Fizi territory has set up a 
coordinated plan in case of mass returns this year to 
avoid duplication of efforts. They have all agreed on the 
distribution of tasks among them. The INGO AAH was given 
the responsibility of screening returnees at the entry 
point to assess their nutritional status. Malnourished 
returnees requiring medical attention would be referred to 
a therapeutic or supplementary nutrition center. Those 
arriving sick and requiring medical attention would be 
referred to the INGOs MSF-Holland or AMI for treatment. 
The local Red Cross is to manage the transit centers with 
UNHCR and World Food Program assistance. The 
transportation of returnees to their drop-off areas would 
be provided by UNHCR and OCHA. 
 
------------------------------------------- 
Are Fizi and Baraka Ready for Mass Returns? 
------------------------------------------- 
 
10. (U) When comparing the area now to the period in May 
2004 when the OFDA Rep last visited, it is clear that 
significant progress has been made in terms of security 
and infrastructure. The Uvira-Baraka-Fizi road that was 
barely usable before has been rehabilitated. Two transit 
centers have been established in Fizi and one in Uvira 
territories. There are at least ten international 
humanitarian organizations established in Fizi territory 
compared to only three a year ago. The security situation 
has also improved in recent months in Baraka and Fizi. For 
instance, there are no more roadblocks along the Uvira- 
Fizi road. General Dunia, an ex-Mai-Mai leader who 
controls Fizi and Baraka, has instituted drastic 
disciplinary measures to reestablish security throughout 
his territory. Soldiers found guilty of raping, killing, 
or looting civilian properties are publicly executed. Many 
residents of Baraka credit the General for the prevailing 
security in the area. 
 
11. (U) Despite the noticeable progress in the preparation 
for the return of refugees, most humanitarian actors 
contacted by OFDA Rep believe that Fizi territory is not 
yet ready for mass returns. The port of Baraka, which is 
logistically critical for repatriation, is still being 
rehabilitated. Although transit centers have been 
established in Baraka and Mushimbakye, they have a 
combined maximum capacity of 200 people, which appears 
insufficient given the 2,400 people expected per week. 
Fizi center, which is one of the planned drop-off areas, 
has no facility to assist returnees who are not from Fizi. 
Health facilities in Fizi are limited and MSF-Holland 
(Doctors without Borders), that was set to provide 
assistance to the general hospital of Fizi center, backed 
out of the negotiations in July. 
 
12. (U) Local population assistance is always critical to 
the reintegration of returnees. However, the capacity of 
the local population in Baraka and Fizi to assist 
newcomers has been greatly reduced by the drought that 
occurred during the last agricultural season. Poor 
harvests throughout the territory led to significant price 
increases of agricultural products in local markets. The 
population of Fizi and Baraka who received OFDA-funded 
assistance last season remain vulnerable and unable to 
assist returnees. In addition to new returnees, program 
beneficiaries from last year would probably continue to 
qualify for food security assistance. 
 
----------- 
Conclusions 
----------- 
 
13. (U) The progressive improvement of security in South 
Kivu, and Fizi territory in particular, has been allowing 
small but continuous returns of refugees from Tanzania 
since 2004. However, despite the increased campaign for 
mass return of refugees and the assisted transportation 
provided by Bembe political leaders, the returning rate of 
refugees from Tanzania to Fizi territory has remained 
constant. This raises the question of whether refugees 
will respond to the newly planned assisted repatriation by 
UNHCR in October. 
 
14. (U) Currently, the territory of Fizi has limited 
infrastructure to absorb large returnees and the local 
capacity to assist newcomers has greatly been reduced by 
drought. As a result, mass returns would certainly further 
increase strain on people's meager resources. Therefore, 
additional humanitarian assistance appears critical in 
case of a large influx of returnees in Fizi territory to 
avoid disastrous situations. OFDA Reps will continue to 
monitor developments to be able to activate additional 
mechanisms of assistance should such be warranted. 
MEECE