The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reiterated its position on the identification of Congolese refugees in Burundi, stressing that the process must be conducted in a strict manner that allows no room for infiltration. This position was clearly expressed by the DRC Minister of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Actions and National Solidarity, Ms. Ève Bazaiba, during a meeting with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Country Representative in Burundi, Ms. Brigitte Mukanga Eno.
According to Minister Ève Bazaiba, the identification of refugees is a critical step not only to ensure protection for individuals who are genuinely entitled to refugee status, but also to safeguard national and regional security. She emphasized that the process must be transparent, credible, and well-coordinated in order to prevent any attempts by ineligible individuals to infiltrate refugee populations.
Cooperation with UNHCR
The Congolese minister further underlined the importance of close cooperation between the authorities of the DRC, the Government of Burundi, and UNHCR. Such collaboration, she noted, is essential to guarantee a reliable identification exercise that fully complies with international standards while also addressing legitimate security concerns of the countries involved.
For her part, the UNHCR Country Representative in Burundi, Ms. Brigitte Mukanga Eno, reaffirmed her organization’s commitment to supporting governments in implementing identification processes that are consistent with humanitarian principles, international norms, and the fundamental rights of refugees. She stressed that UNHCR remains dedicated to an approach that balances protection, humanity, and security.
The meeting comes at a time when the region continues to experience significant population movements due to persistent instability in eastern DRC. Burundi has hosted large numbers of Congolese refugees for several years, making effective and secure identification mechanisms crucial for the sustainable management of the refugee situation.
