Last week, Paul Kagame made a three-day visit to Congo-Brazzaville, a country where more than 8,000 Rwandans are awaiting regularization after losing their refugee status in 2017. Kigali says their plight was not discussed during discussions between the Congolese and Rwandan delegations.
These Rwandans settled in the Congo had fled the 1994 genocide. Since the end of 2017, they no longer have the refugee status they enjoyed.
► Read also : Paul Kagame visits Congo where more than 8000 Rwandans await their regularization
This case has not been addressed, ” at no time was it not on the agenda “assures Vincent Biruta, Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the microphone of our correspondent in Kigali, Laura Broulard.
The Minister provided details on his country’s position on this subject. ” There are mechanisms that can allow these refugees either to return if they wish…for those who want to settle in Congo and benefit from the status of citizen in Congo there are laws that apply.. They must regularize their situation in terms of papers, that they have Rwandan papers, and in this our embassy in Brazzaville can help. And then they can either decide to settle in Congo and apply for Congolese nationality, and in that case Congolese law applies.
I specify once again that this question was not on the agenda and was not discussed at any time.