News comment: UNHCR welcomes DRC-Rwanda peace agreement as opportunity to end cycles of displacement

GENEVA – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes the agreement signed yesterday in Washington D.C. between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Rwanda. We commend the efforts of regional and international partners who made this important milestone toward lasting stability possible.

For decades, violence and instability in the DRC have forced millions of families to flee their homes, often multiple times, stripping them of safety and any hopes for the future. This agreement offers a chance to stop the cycle of violence and displacement and focus on solutions that restore dignity, stability, and opportunity.

“The agreement can bring renewed hope to those who have endured far too much for far too long,” said Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees. “We thank all those who made this possible. This is a chance to turn the page – ensuring the protection of civilians, including refugees and internally displaced people, and advancing durable solutions that allow them to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.”

UNHCR welcomes in particular the parties’ commitment to support the return of refugees and those internally displaced by the conflict to their places of origin, and to guarantee safe, unimpeded humanitarian access to affected communities. The rights and protection of displaced people must remain central as the region moves toward peace.

UNHCR stands ready to work with all partners to support efforts that ensure safety and solutions for displaced populations across the region. This includes facilitating the voluntary return of refugees to their countries of origin in line with the existing Tripartite Agreements between Rwanda, the DRC and UNHCR, as well as between UNHCR, the DRC and other asylum countries in the East and Southern African region. It also involves protecting those still displaced, and helping communities rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.

For more information, please contact:

• In Pretoria, Duniya Aslam Khan, [email protected] +27 83 4585720
• In Nairobi, Dana Hughes, [email protected], +254 717 540160
• In Geneva, Olga Sarrado Mur, [email protected], +41 79 740 2307