Rwanda: Police clash with Congolese refugees at Kiziba camp April 30

Event

On Monday, April 30, Rwandan police clashed with Congolese refugees at the Kiziba camp (Karongi district), wounding at least one person. Refugees reportedly hurled stones at government officials and police officers in the camp, prompting police to fire tear gas at the refugees; the refugees involved were reportedly concerned that police would arrest members of an executive committee that assists in running the camp's operations. Additional clashes between Congolese refugees and Rwandan police are possible in the coming weeks.

Context

Clashes between refugees and security forces have been reported previously at the Kiziba camp. In February, a crowd of approximately 2000 refugees protesting a cut in food rations clashed with Rwandan soldiers, who reportedly opened fire and injured at least two protesters.

Congolese refugees are fleeing ethnic clashes between Hema herders and Lendu farmers in Ituri province. Tens of thousands of people have fled from the DRC to Rwanda during recurrent periods of ethnic and political unrest in the former over the last 20 years. In total, around 174,000 refugees are present in Rwanda.

Advice

Individuals present in Karongi district are advised to monitor the situation, avoid the Kiziba camp, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.