Refugees: Arusha Accord – 4 August 1993

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Refugees: Arusha Accord – 4 August 1993

Implementations

Refugees – 1993

None of the articles in the Arusha Accord related to the repatriation of refugees were implemented in 1993.

Refugees – 1994

On April 6, 1994, Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana is killed when his plane is shot down and Hutu extremists begin killing their political opponents. In late April, approximately 250,000 Tutsi flee to neighboring Tanzania. In July, approximately one million people, mostly Hutu, begin fleeing to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. By the end of the genocide, an estimated two million people had fled to neighboring countries and an estimated three million were internally displaced.1 In late October, there were an estimated 1.2 million Rwandan refugees in Zaire, 270,000 in Burundi, and over 500,000 in Tanzania.2

The repatriation of refugees began in 1994 with the establishment of the transitional government. Between August and September 1994, an estimated 200,000 refugees returned to Rwanda. Those attempting to return in later months, however, were interrupted due to militia activities. During the same period, some 400,000 refugees (mainly of Tutsi origin, who were in exile in Uganda and Burundi) returned to Rwanda. They settled on lands which had belonged to those who recently had fled creating additional problems related to property rights.3

The transitional government in its eight point program reiterated that one of its main goals was the repatriation and resettlement of refugees and displaced persons.4 After the establishment of the transitional government, the Minister for Rehabilitation and Social Integration met with representatives of various NGOs and UN organizations and informed them that all agencies were free to move in all areas of Rwanda.5 A Commission for Repatriation, as called for in the Arusha Accord, was not established in 1994.

By the end of 1994, according to the UNHCR, 1,208,005 refugees had returned to Rwanda.6

  1. “UN Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,” United Nations (S/1994/924), August 3, 1994
  2. “World Report-Rwanda,”Human Rights Watch, 1995, accessed September 22, 2011, http://www.hrw.org/reports/1995/WR95/AFRICA-08.htm#P397_139563.
  3. “UN Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,” United Nations (S/1994/1308), November 18, 1994.
  4. “UN Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,” United Nations (S/1995/107), February 6, 1995.
  5. “Roads And Airport in Rwanda Open to All Relief Agencies,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, July 28, 1994.
  6. “2002-UNHCR Statistical Yearbook-Rwanda,” UNHCR, 2004, accessed August 19, 2011, http://www.unhcr.org/414ad5a50.html

Refugees – 1995

The government of Rwanda signed tripartite agreements with UNHCR and the Governments of Burundi and Zaire respectively on the voluntary repatriation of refugees. These agreements defined the conditions for repatriation including returnee protection and land tenure.1 On 18 July 1995, an agreement was signed to establish the tripartite commission of reparation of Rwandese Refugees from Tanzania between the Tanzanian government, the Rwandan government, and the UNHCR representative. The agreement contained provisions for four delegations representing Rwanda, Tanzania, UNHCR and the Organization of the African Unity.3 It was estimated that between 25% to 50% of refugees could return to Rwanda in the next 6 to 12 months.4 UNHCR and the rehabilitation and social integration ministry worked to improve the security sitution for returnees.5

The security situation was said to be hindering the resettlement of IDPs and the increased screening by the Rwandan authorities of the refugees had slowed the repatriation process. A tripartite commission involving the UNHCR, Tanzania and Rwanda took place in September and measures were agreed upon for starting large-scale repatriation of more than 600,000 Rwandan refugees in Tanzania.6 By the end of the year, only 240,698 refugees from neighboring countries had returned.7

  1. “UN Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,” United Nations (S/1995/65), January 25, 1995.
  2. “Tripartite Commission of Repatriation of Rwandese Refugees From Tanzania,” UNHCR, 1995, accessed September 22, 2011, http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/type,MULTILATERALTREATY,,RWA,3ee71f004,0.h…

    It was estimated that in January 1995 there were approximately 200,000 refugees in Burundi, 600,000 in Tanzania and 1.4 million in Zaire.2“UN Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,” United Nations (S/1995/65), January 25, 1995.

  3. “UN Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,” United Nations (S/1995/65), January 25, 1995.
  4. “Rwanda UNHCR to Set up Refugee Repatriation,” Africa News, September 26, 1995.
  5. “UN Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,” United Nations (S/1995/848), October 7, 1995.
  6. “2002-UNHCR Statistical Yearbook-Rwanda,” UNHCR, 2004, accessed August 19, 2011, http://www.unhcr.org/414ad5a50.html.

Refugees – 1996

It was reported that roughly half of a million people returned to Rwanda during the week of 18 November 1996 after the RPF and the ADFL attacked refugee camps in eastern Congo.1 In 1996, according to the UNHCR statistical record, 1,410,782 refugees returned to Rwanda.2 Most Rwandan refugees in various camps in Tanzania had returned by the end of the year.3 The returnees were directed by Gen. Kagame to settle in unoccupied regions in Rwanda.4

  1. “An Update on the Refugees from Rwanda,” NPR, November 18, 1996.
  2. “2002-UNHCR Statistical Yearbook-Rwanda,” UNHCR, 2004, accessed August 19, 2011, http://www.unhcr.org/414ad5a50.html.
  3. “Rwanda Says All Its Refugees Now Returned From Tanzania,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, December 30, 1996.
  4. “Rwanda’s Kagame Suggests Returning Refugees Should Settle in Unoccupied Areas,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, November 18, 1996.

Refugees – 1997

By the end of the year, 220,454 refugees returned to Rwanda1 It was reported that Zairian rebels had blocked aid workers from entering refugee camps, raising fears that 100,000 Rwandan refugees might flee the camps into the forests.2 Aid workers reported on 23 April 1997 that approximately 55,000 refugees had fled the camps after battles between Zairian rebels and renegade Rwandan soldiers.3 In December 1997, Hutu rebels attacked a camp for Tutsi refugees in northwestern Rwanda killing up to 200 refugees.4

  1. “2002-UNHCR Statistical Yearbook-Rwanda,” UNHCR, 2004, accessed August 19, 2011, http://www.unhcr.org/414ad5a50.html.
  2. “Zairian Rebels Block Rwanda Refugees’ Aid,” Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio), April 22, 1997.
  3. “U.N. Team Find that Rwanda Refugees Have Fled Largest Camp,” Associated Press, April 24, 1997.
  4. “Up to 200 Tutsi Refugees Killed at Camp in Rwanda,” Associated Press, December 11, 1997.

Refugees – 1998

The repatriation of refugees slowed in 1998 with some 10,939 refugees returning to Rwanda.1

  1. “2002-UNHCR Statistical Yearbook-Rwanda,” UNHCR, 2004, accessed August 19, 2011, http://www.unhcr.org/414ad5a50.html.

Refugees – 1999

The UNHCR reported the return of some 38,420 refugees to Rwanda in 1999.1

  1. “2002-UNHCR Statistical Yearbook-Rwanda,” UNHCR, 2004, accessed August 19, 2011, http://www.unhcr.org/414ad5a50.html.

Refugees – 2000

Resettlement continued with 26,262 returnees in 2000.1

  1. “2002-UNHCR Statistical Yearbook-Rwanda,” UNHCR, 2004, accessed August 19, 2011, http://www.unhcr.org/414ad5a50.html.

Refugees – 2001

Resettlement continued with 21,565 returnees in 2001.1

  1. “2002-UNHCR Statistical Yearbook-Rwanda,” UNHCR, 2004, accessed August 19, 2011, http://www.unhcr.org/414ad5a50.html.

Refugees – 2002

Resettlement continued with 38, 643 returnees in 2002.1

  1. “2002-UNHCR Statistical Yearbook-Rwanda,” UNHCR, 2004, accessed August 19, 2011, http://www.unhcr.org/414ad5a50.html.