The announced expulsion of the Rwandan Hutu refugees living in North Kivu (Democratic Republic of Congo) is raising great preoccupation in humanitarian circles. A measure, taken by the Governor of the Province, which should enter into effect within the next two weeks, as reported yesterday by Radio Rwanda. A decision motivated by the necessity of depriving the Rwandan Hutu rebels settled along the borders of all forms of sustaint. The area involved is one of the territories of ex-Zaire occupied by the Rwandan troops operating within the rebel forces of the RCD (Congolese Democratic Coalition). According to influential human and civil rights experts (which will remain anonymous), the real objective of the Governor is the appropriation of the land belonging to the almost 400.000 autochthonous Hutu of Congo and residents of the Province. Since the beginning of the war in 1996-97, during which hundreds and thousands of Rwandan Hutu refugees 'disappeared', until today, there has been a decimation of Rwandan refugees in Kivu. While the few that survived have surely escaped. Many fear however that the decision could lead to a mass deportation of Congolese Hutu. For the most part small farm owners, whose land would remain at the mercy of Rwanda.
What makes the situation even more dangerous for the population, according to the human and civil rights experts, is the -almost certain- absence of international observers during the decreed operations. A forced repatriation is 'out of the question', given that it would be a flagrant violation of all conventions on refugees. The 'Interior Minister' of the rebellion, Joseph Mudumbi, however already asked the UNHCR (UN High Commission for Refugees) to transfer all those that will be touched by the decree. "It is important to remember certain episodes - our experts concluded - which took place at the end of Summer 1996, concerning the numerous Rwandan refugees. First of all, the war of 1996-97, during which hundreds and thousands of refugees: were killed by the troops advancing on Kinshasa or just died of hunger and thirst. While those who remained on the border were repatriated. A repatriation which received ample coverage from the press and television. Who does not remember the horrifying images of the kilometric lines of civilians returning to Rwanda? Not to mention that since last August the North Kivu province is controlled by the Government of Kigali, that openly violates every International Law".