Rwandan police to investigate protests at Congo refugee camp in western Rwanda

KIGALI, Feb. 25– The Rwandan police will start investigations
into the causes of Tuesday’s protests at Kiziba Refugee Camp in Karongi
District in western Rwanda, which houses thousands of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) refugees, said the Rwandan government on
Wednesday.

Several refugees were injured during the protest as they pelted security
personnel with stones, Director of Refugees Affairs in Rwanda’s Ministry of
Disaster Management and Refugees affairs Jean Claude Rwahama told Xinhua by
phone later Wednesday. In the protest, the refugees also attempted to
attack the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Karongi,
Rwahama added. The protests followed a decision of the World Food Program
(WFP) to reduce food assistance to all refugees hosted in Rwanda by 25
percent, due to funding shortage, said a statement issued government
spokesperson office. Refugee representatives have been meeting the camp
management, local authorities as well as partner agencies of the United
Nations to discuss the situation, said Jean Claude Rwahama, Director of
Refugees Affairs in Rwanda’s Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugees
affairs, in the statement. “It is unfortunate that some refugees
resorted to violence even as local authorities and security personnel were
working to find a solution to their grievances,” said Rwahama.

Several people were injured during the protest, but there were no
fatalities, he said. “We remain mindful of the rights of refugees but also
caution them that they must respect the laws of the host country,” said the
director, adding that the police will carry out thorough investigations
into the matter. “Whoever is behind the unlawful acts will have to
account for it,” he said. The refugees’ claims have been heard by
government partners and a solution would be found through “negotiation, not
though violent protests,” said the official. The Kiziba camp is one of
the five refugee camps in Rwanda. It was established in 1996 when thousands
of Congolese refugees were fleeing insecurity in eastern DR Congo.The camp
currently hosts more than 17,000 refugees, according to Ministry of
Disaster Management and Refugees affairs. – XINHUA