Brussels, Saturday, 21 June 2025

     I.          Preamble

At the conclusion of a day of reflection, analysis, and testimony, we, the participants of the General Conference on the Question of Rwandan Refugees, issue the following Declaration, addressed:

• To the African Union, SADC, EAC, and the mediating States engaged in regional peace processes, urging them to recognize Rwandan refugees as legitimate stakeholders in any sustainable political solution;
• To the United Nations and the UNHCR, calling for effective protection of the rights of Rwandan refugees, condemnation of forced repatriations, and support for their political participation;
• To the governments of host countries, requesting they facilitate refugee self-organization and ensure their legal and physical safety;
• To the International Criminal Court (ICC) and international justice mechanisms, to investigate crimes committed against Rwandan refugees and displaced persons in the DRC;
• And to global public opinion, to stand in solidarity with those who have lived for too long in the shadow of exile.

According to UNHCR figures, nearly 250,000 Rwandans currently live with refugee status. However, this figure is grossly underestimated. It excludes the hundreds of thousands of exiles who were forced to adopt foreign nationalities or residence permits due to lack of alternatives, as well as those who live without any legal status often under false identities or as stateless persons, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In truth, the number of Rwandans living in exile against their will very likely exceeds one million.

Deprived of protection, representation, and the prospect of return, they have lived for decades in troubling invisibility, often manipulated according to regional power dynamics.

We assert that only full recognition of their rights, genuine attention to their stories, and a clear political will for change can usher in a new era of justice, security, and solidarity for Rwandan refugees.

 

 

 II.          Key Observations

1. Arbitrary Withdrawal of Refugee Status and UNHCR Inaction

Many Rwandan refugees have seen their status revoked or threatened, in contradiction with the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. This trend spurred by the 2013 cessation clause has undermined core principles of international protection.
The UNHCR, in its diplomatic approach, has largely aligned itself with the Rwandan government’s demands, often at the expense of victims. Moreover, the international community remains silent in the face of cross-border violence by Kigali’s services targeting refugees: assassinations, disappearances, and intimidation. We condemn this inaction and demand effective protection.

2. Geopolitical Instrumentalization

The Rwandan refugee issue has been reduced to a bargaining chip in regional power games. Refugees have become political hostages, used as leverage in bilateral agreements, without their voice being heard. Their systematic exclusion from peace and stabilization processes in Central Africa reflects a profound lack of representation. Lasting peace is impossible without their direct involvement.

3. Deplorable Living Conditions and Lack of Prospects

Testimonies collected during this conference reveal an alarming humanitarian situation: extreme poverty, social marginalization, chronic insecurity especially in camps in eastern DRC. An entire generation of Rwandans is growing up abandoned, without identity or a clear future.

 

III.          Priority Demands

1. Restoration of Refugee Status and Respect for Non-Refoulement

We demand the immediate reversal of all cessation measures and the full recognition of refugee status for all Rwandans in involuntary exile.

2. Inclusion of Refugees in Peace Processes

Rwandan refugees must be recognized as legitimate and indispensable stakeholders in efforts to resolve conflicts in the Great Lakes region. Their systematic exclusion undermines the prospects for durable peace.

We therefore call for their direct inclusion in ongoing peace processes, including:

• The Nairobi/Luanda process, led jointly by the SADC and the East African Community (EAC);
• The Washington process, led by the United States;
• The Doha process, mediated by Qatar.

Simultaneously, we urge states and international mediators to open an official dialogue channel between refugee representatives and the Rwandan government, with the aim of preparing a voluntary, safe, and sustainable return, grounded in concrete and guaranteed reforms in the fields of security, justice, institutions, and politics.

3. Immediate End to Forced Repatriations

We call for the immediate cessation of forced returns of Rwandan refugees, particularly from occupied areas of eastern DRC to Rwanda.

These transfers conducted without free and informed consent constitute grave violations of international law, including Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the principle of non-refoulement under the 1951 Convention. They qualify as war crimes.

We urge the UNHCR to clearly condemn these practices, ensure that all returns remain strictly voluntary, and avoid any direct or indirect complicity in such coercive operations.

We call on the United Nations, states upholding international law, and the International Criminal Court to act without delay to end these violations, establish accountability, and effectively protect Rwandan refugees.

 

IV.          Internal Organization of Refugees

Given the persistent inaction or complacency of certain international institutions, we call on Rwandan refugees to strengthen their collective self-organization, relying on representative and coordinated structures.

Concretely, this means:

• Establishing coordination committees in each camp, city, or host community;
• Creating national consultation platforms in key host countries (DRC, Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Burundi, Cameroon, France, Belgium, UK, Canada, United States, etc.);

These structures must play an active role in:

• Defending fundamental refugee rights;
• Gathering and sharing information on local conditions;
• Engaging in dialogue with international institutions;
• Preparing the political and logistical conditions for a safe and voluntary return.

We also call for support for all independent, grassroots initiatives led by refugees themselves, including community associations, local movements, and political action platforms.

Among such initiatives, the movement All For Rwanda now provides a structured framework for representation, strategic coordination, and international advocacy. It represents a responsible, pluralistic, and solution-oriented approach, committed to sovereign and peaceful political change.

We invite all actors working in support of Rwandan refugees to unite around and within this common platform, to pool efforts, amplify the collective voice of exile, and build a credible and organized political force to meet present and future challenges.

 

  V.          Conclusion

On this World Refugee Day 2025, we solemnly declare that the time for silence, invisibility, and resignation is over. Rwandan refugees, long ignored or manipulated, now claim their full dignity, fundamental rights, and legitimate role in shaping the future of their country.

We call on the international community, the defenders of international law, and regional stakeholders to support a comprehensive and inclusive political solution that finally takes into account the reality of Rwandan exile and the deep-rooted causes that perpetuate it.

In a spirit of responsibility and peace, we extend a solemn appeal to the Rwandan government to initiate an honest and credible political dialogue, under international guarantees, with the representatives of the refugees, in order to lay the groundwork for a voluntary, dignified, safe, and sustainable return.

We, the undersigned parties to this Declaration, commit ourselves to organizing, raising our voices, fostering active solidarity among those in exile, and carrying forward with determination the cause of justice, peace, and reconciliation for the entire Rwandan people.

This day marks a turning point. It opens a new phase toward a just and inclusive political solution one in which no Rwandan refugee is left behind.

 

Signatories

On behalf of all participants:
Dr. Etienne MUTABAZI
Dr. Emmanuel MWISENEZA
Dr. Vincent BIZIMANA
Mr Norman Ishimwe SINAMENYE

Mme Gloria UWISHEMA
Mr Placide KAYUMBA

Mme Kami RUNYINYA

Mr Chaste GAHUNDE

Mr Eustache HABUMUREMYI

Endorsing organizations:
All For Rwanda
SOS Réfugiés
Victoire Foundation for Peace
Jambo ASBL
International Women’s Network for Democracy and Peace