NGO to assess conditions for safe return of Rwandan refugees

A human rights NGO from the Republic of Congo is en route to Rwanda to assess conditions for the safe return of refugees, Roger Bouka-Owoko, head of communications for the Observatoire congolais des droits de l'homme, told IRIN on Wednesday in the capital, Brazzaville. "This mission will allow us to get a better sense of the current situation and to collect information on the overall situation in Rwanda, particularly with regard to security conditions, the socio-economic situation and the protection of human rights and fundamental liberties," Bouka-Owoko said. He added that the mission, through interviews with government authorities, civil society organisations and recently-returned former refugees, would also enable his NGO to better determine the degree to which reconciliation was taking place in Rwanda. "From this 10-day mission, we hope to have the necessary elements to best sensitise Rwandan refugees across the Congo through an information campaign," he said. Several thousand Rwandan refugees have arrived in Congo since 1997, residing in various regions across the country. Bouka-Owoko noted that the project was made possible by a contribution of US $20,000 from the US embassy in Congo.