The government, together with the UNHCR, last week launched a campaign to sensitize Rwandans in Congo-Brazzaville to return home.

This was revealed by the Minister of Disaster Preparedness and Refugee Affairs, Gen.Marcel Gatsinzi, in an exclusive interview with The New Times.

According to Gatsinzi, the UNHCR representative in Congo, Paul Ndaitouroum, appealed to Rwandan refugees that the country is now peaceful and there is no need for them to remain in exile.

"He told them that Rwanda doesn’t forcefully repatriate refugees as some people were speculating. He emphasized to them that currently Rwanda is secure and welcomes every refugee who intend to repatriate,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gatsinzi revealed that a tripartite delegation of Rwandan officials, UNHCR and Congolese authorities, met last week with over 400 refugees from Kintere Camp and others from various parts of the country.

This follows the agreed secession clause between Rwandan and UNHCR that will ensure that no Rwandan is accorded refugee status by December 2011.

The Minister noted that the current government differs from previous regimes that prohibited Rwandan refugees to return home forcing them to apply for other nationalities.

He further disclosed that Rwandans should live in the Diaspora as Rwandans who are working there aiming to develop their country but not as refugees.
Gatsinzi highlighted that they are targeting other countries that have many refugees to disseminate the same information.

"We are now planning to go to other countries like Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, and Cameroon to ensure that this problem of refugees is resolved”.

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