The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has concluded a week-long mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, calling for stronger international support for peace efforts and humanitarian work to ensure that refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) can return home safely and rebuild their lives.
“Safe and dignified voluntary return remains the most durable solution for many refugees in DRC and Rwanda. UNHCR appreciates recent peace efforts, notably the Washington agreement and the Doha peace process, which have recognized the importance of addressing refugee issues.”
“Their true value will be measured by concrete actions that deliver lasting security, stability, and investment in communities – so that return is not only possible, but sustainable,” Grandi said.
A sign of progress came on 25 August 2025, when 533 Rwandan refugees, mostly women and children, voluntarily returned home from eastern DRC to Rwanda.
The repatriation, achieved just a month after commitments made at the DRC-Rwanda-UNHCR Tripartite meeting in Addis Ababa, was hailed as an important confidence-building step in broader peace processes.
In Kinshasa, Grandi met with President Félix Tshisekedi to discuss UNHCR’s support for safe and dignified returns of both refugees and IDPs.
He welcomed the President’s commitment and urged that momentum be maintained as part of ongoing peace efforts.
Traveling to Sake, a town 60 kilometres from Goma, Grandi listened to people who have been repeatedly uprooted by violence.
Many expressed hope for stability but also shared the immense challenges of rebuilding their lives.
The High Commissioner also met with humanitarian partners and de facto authorities in the area.
“For decades, the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo have endured conflict and repeated displacement.”
”We hope the recent peace efforts will create an environment where unhindered humanitarian access is guaranteed, helping to reduce suffering and meet urgent needs.”
He also called on the international community to demonstrate stronger solidarity.
“Ending the cycle of violence and enabling communities to rebuild their lives is only possible through collective action,” he said.
In Rwanda, Grandi praised the country’s progressive approach to including refugees in national life.
Meeting with President Paul Kagame, he discussed opportunities to advance durable peace and reaffirmed UNHCR’s readiness to support efforts addressing refugee situations in both Rwanda and the DRC.
“Rwanda’s long-standing commitment to refugee protection and inclusion sets a powerful example. Its approach shows what is possible when displaced people are given the chance to learn, work, and thrive – and it merits strong international support,” Grandi noted.
Looking ahead, the High Commissioner reaffirmed UNHCR’s readiness to back regional peace efforts, including voluntary repatriation under the tripartite framework, as the region works toward lasting stability.
