DRC senators meet Congolese refugees

The visiting delegation of senators from the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Tuesday met thousands of Congolese refugees who have been living in Rwanda for over 15 years. The team led by DRC Senate President Léon Kengo wa Dondo, visited Gihembe Refugee Camp in Gicumbi district, where they stated that the refugees need to be fed with timely information on the security situation back in their country. The camp is home to approximately 20,000 Congolese, mainly from the conflict-torn eastern part of the country. The delegation was accompanied by Rwanda Senate president, Dr Jean-Damascène Ntawukuriryayo, among others. Ntawukuriryayo said the problem of refugees needs to be solved through a deep analysis of the cause. “If everyone including us politicians and you refugees have the will to solve the problem, there is no doubt it will be solved,” he said. There are nearly 100,000 Congolese refugees spread across different camps in the country. Kengo wa Dondo told his compatriots that their government is concerned with the refugees in Rwanda and the problem of conflict and instability in general. “We came here to discuss with the government officials so that one day you can return to your country and I can assure you that the day is not far away,” Dondo said. According to Samuel Bimenyimana, who spoke on behalf of the refugees, they wish to go back to their country and contribute to its development. However, Dondo said refugees have been imposing so many conditions to return home but time is up to remove all those conditions and go back to their country. “Congo is a country of rights, the country is ready to give you your land and whatever you need to live in good conditions,” he promised. Dondo arrived in the country on Monday, leading a delegation of six members of Congolese senatorial committee on foreign affairs and Cooperation, among others.

National

DRC senators meet Congolese refugees