Rwanda welcomes invocation of cessation clause

The Government of Rwanda has welcomed the invocation of the cessation clause for Rwandan refugees by the UNHCR calling it a symbolic and substantive milestone that marks Rwanda’s progress in the last 

 17 years.

According to the Foreign Minister and Government Spokesperson Louise Mushikiwabo the invocation has paved way for the return of more Rwandans to their country.

“This stamp of approval from the UNHCR lights the path homeward for the estimated 100,000 remaining Rwandan refugees. The Government of Rwanda extends a welcoming hand to those fellow citizens who have yet to join their three million compatriots in coming home.  We urge them to take their rightful place in Rwanda’s journey of reconciliation, national renewal and socioeconomic development.”

Mushikiwabo further said that through Rwanda’s embassies and in consultation with UNHCR, will take all the necessary steps to inform refugees of their rights and responsibilities, and work with asylum countries to ensure they can facilitate return or integration where necessary.”

On his part, the Minister in charge of Refugee Affairs, Gen. Marcel Gatsinzi said:

“The Government of Rwanda is wholeheartedly committed to the return of all refugees. We believe it is the right of every Rwandan to enjoy the benefits of living in his or her own country, to be close to their relatives and to contribute to the development of Rwanda.

We will do all we can to ensure that they can make their choice based on accurate information, free of fear and in the knowledge that they will be welcomed and supported when they return home.”

The government of Rwanda has been holding talks with United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to activate the Cessation Clause for some time now.

The UNHCR Cessation Clause stipulates that, after its implementation a person recognized as a refugee must either voluntarily return to the country of origin or apply for residence in the host country.

Now that it has been activated it will be implemented effective June 30, 2012. The clause was initially supposed to be implemented on December 31, last year, but was delayed.

An estimated 70,000 Rwandans live as refugees in different parts of the world, while more than 3.4 million have voluntarily repatriated since 1994.

The Cessation Clause is invoked after UNHCR has concluded that reasons that led people to becoming refugees were no more and that the socio-economic conditions in the country of origin had changed for the better.

However, the declaration does not prevent individuals applying for fresh refugee status, but in that case, the outcome is entirely dependent on the judgment of the recipient country.