UN refugee agency to close camp in northern DRC

A camp in northern Democratic Republic of the Congo hosting refugees from the Central African Republic will be closed in a month now that the UN refugee agency UNHCR has repatriated 2,500 refugees, the agency's resident representative said on Monday. The official, Emile Segbor, told IRIN that the camp at Mole, 35 km from the CAR's border, had contained some 2,650 refugees, 100 of whom still feared to return home. "We are going to interview them to see whether they have good reasons to remain in exile," he said. The Office of UN High Commissioner for Refugees was, he said, providing protection and aid to this group. The agency started its repatriation effort on 9 June. The refugees, who had fled retaliatory violence aimed at the Yakoma people following an abortive coup by former President Andre Kolingba, had been in the DRC since June 2001. Since seizing power in a coup on 15 March, Francois Bozize has been reassuring exiles that it is safe to return home. He has announced a general amnesty for all those convicted in connection with Kolingba's failed coup; established a government of national unity; and a National Transitional Council, a lawmaking advisory body.