Voluntary return

2020

Timely and durable solutions were sought for refugees and asylum-seekers throughout 2020. Some 992 people (297 families) were relocated to the Bouemba site where they received collective and individual assistance.

Regarding durable solutions, some 3,500 Congolese refugees and asylum-seekers indicated their willingness to return in 2019 after the successful elections, and an additional 1,500 Congolese from the December 2018 arrivals have indicated their intention to return. In 2020, these groups were not repatriated as the tripartite agreement was still in preparation for a 2021 rollout. The new DRC Government has demonstrated its willingness to support the voluntary repatriation by facilitating a security assessment and assessment mission in the Yumbi region return areas in September 2020. UNHCR undertook a range of activities to prepare for the tripartite meeting, including internal meetings, especially with stakeholders in Plateaux, cross-border meetings - one of which was canceled due to COVID-19 - and planning go-and-see missions for 2021. An additional 40 Congolese registered their intentions to return in 2020.

A small group of Congolese refugees are in need of resettlement due to legal and physical protection needs. This includes refugees who fear persecution because of their political opinion and whose security cannot be ensured due to the proximity of Kinshasa and Brazzaville, and the security and cooperation agreements between the two countries. Although UNHCR submitted a proposal of 145 cases (350 people), no cases have been submitted for resettlement for 2020.