Rwandan refugees still have choices:-Minister Séraphine Mukantabana of MIDMAR

During an interview that MIDMAR  provided to journalists last Thuesday,Minister Mukantabana Séraphine reminded the refugees that they still have choices:whether to return back home or become citizens of the nations where they live. She said that Rwanda will help in whichever choice they will make.

She said that the Government is achieving its objective to bring back home 70% of refugees. This number includes also refugees who ultimately will choose to become citizens of the host countries.

MIDMAR still hopes that remaining refugees will be coming back in the upcoming months. She underlined the fact none will force to do so.

However,according to Séraphine ,some specific countries such as Congo Brazza has stated that Rwandan refugees should turn back home before it takes measures to do so on their behalf.

In case they choose to be naturalized Congolese, Mukantabana finds any threat to Rwandan national security.

Responding to the question that some refugees refuse to come back due to the ‘lack of political freedom and freedom of expression’, Minister Mukantabana stated that there no way to say that Rwandans can remain in foreign countries and carry their political carrier because, she says ,everyone is allowed to do so in Rwanda.

As Rwandan rebels in DRC called FDLR can most likely find Congolese citizenship and settle nearby Rwandan borders with DRC, Mukantabana assured that Rwanda never feels a threat from them. She said that in case they prefer to return back home; they will be welcomed as any other Rwandan.

Mukantabana said that in case they come, they will receive all treatments that any Rwandan is worthy to receive such as shelter, healthy and water sanitation services and education among others.

Rwanda has urged the UN to remove the refugees’ status to all Rwandan refugees  having fled the nation from 1959 up to 1998. UNHCR has accepted that and since Monday,01^st ,July the Cessation clause started to be effective.

Daddy Sadiki Rubangura

UM– USEKE