Kinshasa is hosting the second tripartite meeting between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the Central African Republic (CAR) from Tuesday, June 9 to Thursday, June 12. The talks focus on repatriating Central African refugees living in the DRC. The gathering brings together experts from the DRC, CAR, and UNHCR.
Pierre Atchom, the UNHCR country representative in the DRC, stated that 22,604 biometrically registered Central African refugees remain in the country. Most are located in the provinces of Nord-Ubangi, Sud-Ubangi, and Bas-Uélé. Additionally, 65,000 new Central African asylum seekers arrived in May 2025 in the locality of Zapaï, within the Ango territory (Bas-Uélé).
Éric Mukandila, permanent secretary of the National Commission for Refugees (CNR) and head of the DRC delegation, reminded that voluntary repatriation of Central African refugees from the DRC resumed after former conflict zones were pacified. This followed a July 2019 agreement between the DRC, CAR, and UNHCR.
“This agreement was reinforced by the 2022 Yaoundé Declaration, which promotes a regional approach to finding and implementing durable solutions for people forcibly displaced by the Central African crisis,” said the Congolese delegate. He stressed that 40,000 Central Africans have already returned to the CAR since 2019 under safe and dignified conditions, facilitated by UNHCR in collaboration with both governments.
“Faced with this situation that causes anger and discouragement among those wishing to return, an in-depth review is essential to identify solutions that will allow them to return home safely and with dignity,” he advocated.
Mesmin Guenguebe Mbari, advisor on land management for the Central African Republic and head of the CAR delegation, welcomed that over 43% of Central Africans have returned from the DRC thanks to this agreement. He announced his country’s projections for this year: the potential return of nearly 60,000 refugees from various asylum countries, supported by an innovative strategy of development poles in return areas. He also called for pragmatic and frank discussions, proposing a methodological pause to scientifically evaluate the lives of those already returned, analyze their integration into communities, and measure the real impact of aid allocated to them.
