AU gives US $55,851 to support refugees

The African Union has granted the Republic of Congo 30 million francs CFA (US $55,851) to assist with the hosting of thousands of refugees from Angola, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, the Congolese government reported on Wednesday. "Despite limited means, the efforts of the Republic of Congo are significant," Bruno Nangoma, permanent representative of the AU to Congo, was quoted as saying during a ceremony in the capital, Brazzaville. He presented a cheque to Rodolphe Adada, Congolese minister of foreign affairs, cooperation and Francophonie. Nangoma said that although the funds were insufficient, they should be seen as a token of appreciation and excellent relations between the AU and the Congo. The government said that the rights of refugees in the Congo were well respected, and that their repatriation was voluntary. As an example, it cited the signing in early June of a tripartite agreement among Brazzaville, Kigali and the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, for the voluntary repatriation of Rwandan refugees from the Congo.