Central Africa and the Great Lakes

2012 Regional Operations Profile - Central Africa and the Great Lakes

Working environment

As many as 3.3 million people in the region continue to suffer from the consequences of conflict and political turmoil. Hundreds of thousands of them have been forced to flee to safer areas within their countries or abroad. The largest group of displaced people is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, comprising more than 400,000 refugees and asylum-seekers and over a million internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The elections that were held in a relatively calm environment in Burundi, the Central African Republic, Rwanda and the United Republic of Tanzania in 2010 and early 2011, have brought renewed hopes for peace and stability. The fulfilment of those hopes will depend on the outcomes of the elections to take place before the end of 2011 in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Although the major part of the region remains stable, the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to face a serious humanitarian crisis, particularly in the east, where the presence of armed groups remains a source of concern.

The security situation in the Central African Republic also remains precarious, notably because of the country's long and porous borders with neighbours affected by internal conflict, such as Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan. The civilian character of the refugee camps in the Central African Republic is threatened by the presence of armed elements, increasing the risk of refugees being forcibly recruited as fighters or sexually abused.

The Central African Republic hosts some 18,000 refugees, of whom some 12,000 are from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The tense security environment is exacerbated by the proliferation of rebel movements, which has caused massive displacement of people both within and outside the country. To date, there are some 130,000 refugees from the Central African Republic in Chad, Cameroon and Sudan. An estimated 176,000 IDPs remain within the country.

The Republic of the Congo hosts nearly 140,000 refugees, mostly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their voluntary repatriation will take place in 2012, while UNHCR will advocate for the local integration of refugees who have been in the Congo since 2008, and who have opted to stay there.

The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania demonstrated its commitment to ending the refugee situation in the country by taking the unprecedented decision to naturalize more than 162,200 Burundian refugees. These refugees, who have been living in the country since 1972, are still of concern to UNHCR, as they will only be able to exercise their rights as citizens once final procedures for their local integration are implemented. The relocation of these new citizens to designated areas has yet to start, causing them anxiety. The Government is expected to announce the start of the relocation shortly, so that by the end of 2012, the majority of these new citizens will have been relocated.

In 2012, the local integration of the newly-naturalized Tanzanians in their new homes will be a major objective of the Government, UNHCR, other UN agencies and district authorities. Tanzania is also planning to complete the voluntary repatriation of some 38,000 Burundian refugees still living in Mtabila Camp, which the Government plans to close by December 2012. While preparing to receive these people, Burundi is also coping with a precarious security environment in the wake of the 2010 elections.

In Rwanda, UNHCR is working closely with the Government, asylum countries and other relevant stakeholders to implement a comprehensive strategy bringing a conclusion to the Rwandan refugee situation, including through the invocation of the cessation clauses. UNHCR is promoting the voluntary repatriation of Rwandans still in exile, and searching for other solutions for those who cannot return.

Strategy in 2012

UNHCR will continue to promote durable solutions, especially voluntary repatriation, for refugees from Burundi, the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. Tripartite agreements have been signed to allow for the voluntary repatriation of refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the Congo and Rwanda. Another tripartite agreement between the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and UNHCR is designed to ensure the voluntary repatriation of refugees from Rwanda to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and vice versa.

When voluntary repatriation is not an option, UNHCR will pursue local integration and resettlement opportunities, particularly for refugees with specific needs. UNHCR is also leading the protection clusters in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it provides protection and assistance, and coordinates the activities of various agencies to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence.

As lead agency for the Refugee Programme Working Group under the UN Development Assistance Plan (UNDAP) in Tanzania, UNHCR will provide strategic leadership and direction on international protection and assistance to refugees, the local integration of the new citizens, and the establishment and strengthening of efficient and fair asylum and migration systems, in line with international norms.

UNHCR will also continue to provide technical assistance to governments to strengthen their national asylum frameworks, especially in Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon.

Constraints

The political and security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains precarious, threatening humanitarian work and access to people of concern. The location of refugees and asylum-seekers in remote places makes registration and the distribution of humanitarian assistance difficult. Moreover, the refugees' dependence on assistance and the lack of income-generation options hamper voluntary repatriation and local integration efforts.

In Tanzania, the Government has yet to announce when relocation of the approximately 162,200 newly naturalized Tanzanians will start, affecting the local integration project for these new citizens, who will only be able to exercise their full rights as citizens once relocated to their designated locations, and in possession of their naturalization certificates.

Operations

Operations in Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and the United Republic of Tanzania are covered in separate chapters.

Gabon hosts some 13,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, of whom some 9,000 are from the Republic of the Congo. Following the Government's decision to declare the unilateral cessation of refugee status for these refugees in 2010, UNHCR is working with the authorities to seek durable solutions for those concerned, particularly voluntary repatriation and local integration. The Government has also agreed to grant residence permits to refugees in order to help them integrate locally. Where neither local integration nor voluntary repatriation is possible, UNHCR searches for resettlement opportunities for the most vulnerable people of concern.

Financial information

Between 2007 and 2011, efforts to secure durable solutions in the region, particularly repatriation, local integration and reintegration, led to increases in related budgets. For 2012, overall requirements stand at USD 313 million, compared to USD 417 million in 2011. The budget includes increased allocations for voluntary repatriation and initial reintegration programmes, but a reduction for IDP projects in anticipation of the return of several IDP groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo -- on the assumption that the 2011 elections take place in a calm and peaceful environment.

Source: UNHCR Global Appeal 2012-2013