Rwandans remain unconvinced of peace back home

Frustrated by the reluctance of Rwandan refugees to return home, the authorities in Zambia said on Tuesday they may have to consider invoking a cessation clause declaring that dangerous conditions no longer exist in Rwanda, and asylum seekers would not be recognised as refugees. Jacob Mpepo, Commissioner for Refugees in the Zambian Ministry of Home Affairs, told IRIN that despite "solid evidence" that it was safe to return home, Rwandan refugees remained "unconvinced". In January last year the governments of Zambia and Rwanda and the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) signed a tripartite agreement facilitating their return, on the grounds that peace had returned to the country. But according to Mpepo, "progress has been slow", with only 125 of 5,000 refugees returning home. "Our latest attempt to convince the Rwandans that it is safe to return happened earlier this month, when two refugees participated in a 'go and see' visit. They spent time in their villages of origin and met with friends and other returnees. When they got back to Zambia they were quite optimistic about returning home," Mpepo said. Contrary to some of the concerns raised by the Rwandan refugees, he said "there was no evidence of discrimination against the returnees". UNHCR and the authorities have embarked on an aggressive education campaign since the voluntary repatriation programme kicked off, to ensure that refugees were confident peace had returned to Rwanda after the 1994 genocide, which claimed the lives of more than 800,000 Tutsis and politically moderate Hutus. Mpepo noted that Zambia would continue to support the voluntary repatriation programme until December, "but thereafter we will have to consult with our UNHCR colleagues regarding the ongoing status of the refugees". Should Zambia invoke the cessation clause, Rwandan refugees would have to apply for immigrant status. "This would mean reclassifying those who meet the Zambia's immigration criteria," Mpepo said. "UNHCR has repatriated close to 33,000 Rwandans from across the world - this should be evidence enough to convince the refugees in Zambia that it is ok to go home." UNHCR has said it will continue to work with the authorities to assist Rwandan refugees to return home.