Congolese Refugees From South Kivu : Challenges of Return in the Territories of Fizi and Uvira

The repatriation of Congolese refugees to their homes in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, is a hot topic in the province and the wider region. Approximately 100,000 refugees still live in camps in Burundi and Tanzania, and while the repatriation process considerably slowed down in 2009 and 2010, Tanzanian authorities are in a hurry to close the camps, whilst the Burundian and Congolese governments consider that South Kivu is now safe enough to welcome returnees. However, the refugees themselves are reticent to go home, citing the many socio-economic and security difficulties they perceive as barriers to their peaceful resettlement in their villages.