RWANDA
Rwanda has disbanded the Congolese refugee leadership for Kiziba camp over accusations of fuelling unrest.
Kigali
blamed the camp leaders for derailing the return to normalcy following
the February deadly protests over reduction in food rations.
The
Disaster Management and Refugees (MIDIMAR) ministry accused the
refugees’ executive committee of mobilising the revolt against the
government and partner institutions.
MIDIMAR indicated
it had decided to dissolve the committee to stop violent, unruly and
provocative conduct that was paralysing safety in the camp and in its
surroundings.
The management
“The
refugees’ executive committee, which was established to help in the
management of the camp, has instead been mobilising refugees to revolt
against government officials and partner institutions, denying them
access to the camp, and causing disorder among the refugees, thereby
rendering the camp and its surroundings unsafe,” MIDIMAR said in a
statement on Monday.
MIDIMAR said it had dissolved the
committee with immediate effect to restore order, and allow for dialogue
to resolve “any existing or emerging challenges”.
Kigali
has also warned that refugee attempting to interfere with the process
of restoring normalcy in the camp would be violating the law and would
be held to account.
Suspected ringleaders
The move comes amid last week’s reports of rising tensions that saw the government deploy security agents to the Kiziba camp.
The food protest in February had over 10 refugees shot dead and several others injured in a clash with the police.
More than 22 suspected ringleaders were currently facing justice.
Rwanda currently hosts more than 17,000 Congolese refugees at the Kiziba camp.
They
say the food assistance they received reduced by 25 per cent in January
following another 10 per cent reduction in November last year.
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