More Congolese flee persecution

RUBAVU – THE government has resumed receiving Congolese refugees fleeing from alleged persecution by armed groups in the eastern part of their country.A makeshift camp has been established at the La Corniche border post in Rubavu district to accommodate the refugees who continue to cross into Rwanda. Antoine Ruvebana, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Disaster and Refugee affairs yesterday said that the facility would be equipped with essential needs such as water, electricity medical and social relief items.“We have reinstalled the emergency equipment and this border post camp acts as a temporary facility before they are be transferred to Nkamira Transit Centre,” he said.Ruvebana expressed optimism that the issue of fleeing refugees would not end soon saying his ministry is looking at modalities of getting a long term solution to the problem.By press time yesterday, over 600 refugees had already been transferred to Nkamira awaiting relocation to Kigeme Refugee camp in Nyamagabe district, which is expected next week, according to officials. Those who talked to The New Times said they were fleeing violence targeting Kinyarwanda speaking Congolese.Gertrude Mukayire said she escaped from Masisi after armed militiamen raided her home and killed her husband.“They attacked during day and killed my husband who was feeding cows in the farmyard. I immediately escaped with these two children,” she sorrowfully said referring to her deceased sister’s children.Another refugee, who only identified himself as Ntwari, explained that they were being attacked by members of different armed groups such as Mai Mai Nyatura and FDLR, the militia blamed for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.“Sometimes they come speaking Kinyarwanda referring to us as Tutsi and even bragging to be members of the FDLR,” he said.Presently, there are over 50,000 Congolese refugees in Rwanda.Apart from Kigeme, the refugees are also hosted in Gihembe in Gicumbi district, Kiziba and Nyabiheke in Karongi and Gatsibo districts respectively.

National

More Congolese flee persecution