DRC/Rwanda: Congolese Refugees Imagine a Peaceful Agrarian Future with Their Rwandan Neighbors

Sep 9, 2024 | Nicolas Parent, Peace News
View Original

Over 82,000 Congolese refugees are in Rwanda, with many there for nearly three decades. The vast majority (88%) inhabit one of five camps located in rural areas, with the remainder in urban areas or transit centres. As is rather common, towns and villages have seen significant growth around these camps, largely due to the microeconomies that emerge through and from the camp’s infusion of finance, goods, services, and labour. In Rwanda, studies have shown that host communities have largely benefitted from nearby camps, leading to a diversification of economic activities and improved schooling outcomes. Some Congolese refugees envision a future in which the Rwandan government, or other organizations and institutions, provide land for refugees and landless Rwandans to work together, tackling food scarcity and building peace.