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FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0359
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
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RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 KINSHASA 001052 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV PREL CG
 
SUBJECT: Rumors and Realities of Rwandan Returnees in North Kivu 
 
REF: Kinshasa 573 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  Statistics from UNHCR, MONUC, the Congolese 
National Commission for Refugees (CNR), and independent field 
investigations indicate that significant numbers of ethnic Tutsis 
are entering North Kivu from Rwanda.  UNHCR's estimate of 12,000, 
while plausible, is probably inflated.  Those crossing the border 
say they are Congolese refugees returning to lands they fled during 
the violence of the 1990s, but very few possess official refugee 
identification.  Reports from IDP camps and other sources on the 
ground suggest returnees are young adults under 30 years old with 
little recent connection to the Kivus, but family groups have also 
settled in Congolese IDP camps.  The movement appears to be 
encouraged by ex-CNDP elements on the Congolese side of the 
frontier, who have long called for the return of Congolese Tutsi 
refugees in Rwanda and Burundi.  Congolese authorities in the 
General Directorate of Migration (DGM) and the National Intelligence 
Agency (ANR) appear willing to look the other way.  A major 
political battle -- and perhaps more violence -- looms as the local 
populations and their political leaders fear a Tutsi land grab.  On 
the other hand, Congolese Tutsis and their political leaders assert 
they are moving back onto land which is legally their own.  In the 
end, it may be difficult to accurately differentiate between 
returning Congolese refugees, returning IDPs, and economic migrants. 
 End summary. 
 
Rumors and Reports Making the Rounds 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Since July-August, persistent and frequent stories have 
circulated in North Kivu that significant numbers of people have 
crossed from Rwanda clandestinely at night in an organized fashion. 
They are often described as Congolese Tutsis who fled or migrated to 
Rwanda in the 1990s, but some insist they are "Rwandans." (Note: 
Many Congolese do not make a distinction between Rwandans or 
Banyarwanda, especially Tutsis, who have lived in Congo for years. 
End note.) 
 
¶3.  (SBU) UNHCR hesitates to call these migrants refugees for 
several reasons:  they are not returning via UNHCR facilitation; 
they lack refugee identification; and the number of Congolese 
refugees in Rwandan camps has remained steady at about 53,000.  In 
October, UNHCR worked closely with the Congolese National Commission 
for Refugees (CNR) to assess the situation.  They found that 11,902 
people clandestinely crossed from Rwanda between January 1 and 
October 21.  MONUC military sources concur with that figure.  CNR 
derived this number by asking local authorities in Masisi (the 
supposed final destination for the returnees) to report on refugee 
arrivals.  The CNR data is ambiguous as to whether new arrivals are 
refugees or IDPs, noting that some arrivals are from as early as 
¶2002. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Most of those coming from Rwanda are reported to be 
crossing the border near Kibumba, 25 kilometers north of Goma.  They 
reportedly arrive on market days (Mondays and Thursdays) so they can 
blend in with the crowds, then depart in busses heading primarily 
toward Mushake, Kitchanga and Kirolirwe in Masisi District.  Others 
apparently walk with their cattle off the roads around the 
volcanoes. 
 
International Facilitation's Investigation 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶5.  (SBU)   Goma-based diplomats have jointly investigated the 
rumors and reports to assess the reality.  Members of the group, 
Qrumors and reports to assess the reality.  Members of the group, 
including representatives from the U.S., France, the UK, and the 
Netherlands, visited Kibumba and the nearby Rwandan border, as well 
as Kitchanga in Masisi to meet with refugees, local officials and 
locally based UN and NGO staff.  They engaged a local Congolese 
employee of one of the representatives (a half-Tutsi Kinyarwanda 
speaker) who volunteered to go to Kibumba early on market day, 
mingle with people coming across the border, catch a bus to 
Kitchanga and report his observations. 
 
Population Movement is Real 
--------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Results of these investigations confirmed that there has 
been significant cross border movement since mid-year.  Ndengo 
Viature, president of the overwhelmingly Tutsi Kahe IDP camp in 
Kitchanga, reported that the first arrivals from Rwanda came in 
July.  On November 19, Kahe camp housed 305 families from Rwanda out 
of a total of 3,650 families, with one or two new families arriving 
every day. 
 
 
KINSHASA 00001052  002 OF 005 
 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Crossborder movements have been visible since June, 
according to the dispatcher at the Association of Congolese 
Chauffeurs (ACCO) taxi stand in Kibumba next to the main north-south 
road.  The vast majority of those crossing the border want to go to 
Masisi and to accommodate them, he has dispatched more minibus taxis 
in that direction. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) By September, the continued flow through Kibumba caused 
Congolese authorities in the CNR to take note.  In an effort to 
assess the situation more systematically, CNR has worked with ACCO 
since September 10, compiling a list of Rwandan arrivals using 
transport at the ACCO stand.  They record names, how many are in 
each group, where they claim to be coming from, where they say they 
are going to, and their refugee status.  According to this registry, 
it appears that over 700 individuals coming from Rwanda registered 
at the taxi stand between September 10 and November 17.  The ACCO 
dispatcher responsible for compiling the CNR list indicated that the 
border crossings always occur on market days and that  15-50 people 
cross on these days.  He reported that on one day 101 people 
registered. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Crossborder flows at a village between Kibumba and Goma 
east of the main north-south road were also reported.   Residents of 
a local village (that began as an IDP camp in 2003) said that about 
20 refugees per day had walked through their village from the 
Rwandan border, apparently toward Goma.  This assertion could not be 
confirmed and seems like a high figure. 
 
Numbers Uncertain 
----------------- 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Although these observations indicate that crossborder 
movement has increased significantly, they do not give a sense of 
the overall scale of the movement.  But they do provide a starting 
point.  If one extrapolates that the flow through Kibumba occurred 
at roughly the same rate in the three months before September 10 as 
it did in the two months after, then roughly 1,750 refugees have 
crossed there since early June. 
 
¶11.  (SBU) The reports of movement through the south of Kibumba, and 
the experience of displaced persons elsewhere, suggest that not all 
the crossborder movement goes through the formal registration 
point/taxi stand at Kibumba.  Conservatively estimating that about 
one-quarter of the crossborder movement is not registered at Kibumba 
and temporarily discounting the villagers' count of 20 refugees per 
day, an additional 450 refugees are present.  This brings the total 
to about 2,100 since early-mid June at a minimum. 
 
¶12.  (SBU) In Masisi, there is evidence of population movement of a 
similar size.  In the Kahe camp, there are 305 families registered. 
Taking the normal assumption of five persons per household, that 
would be approximately 1,525 persons.  Serge Derthoms, the UNHCR 
representative in Kitchanga, reported that at another IDP camp 
several kilometers south of Kitchanga, 130 families (about 650 
individuals) had been registered since June bringing the total of 
new Rwandan arrivals in the Kitchanga IDP camps to 2,175. 
 
 
¶13.  (SBU) In addition, there are returnees that cannot be counted. 
UNHCR, NGOs, MONUC, and local authorities all indicated that there 
are a significant number of people living with families outside the 
camps in the Kitchanga area.  The population of Kitchanga has 
reportedly swelled considerably in recent months from its normal 
level of about 70,000.  However, much of he influx is due to IDPs 
Qlevel of about 70,000.  owever, much of the influx is due to IDPs 
who have left the formal camps, including around Goma, but have not 
found home conditions safe enough to return permanently.  Derthoms 
estimated that in the Tutsi quarter of Kitchanga adjacent to the 
Kahe camp, there are about 300 people living with host families.  A 
representative from MSF-Holland thought the figure was much higher. 
 
¶14.  (SBU) In addition, UNHCR reports thousands of new arrivals from 
Rwanda around the Kirolirwe and Mushake areas, which are both 
heavily populated by Tutsis.  They are reportedly both in camps and 
settled with host families.  Others are reported to be heading 
toward Walikale.  Stories about Tutsis heading toward Masisi off the 
roads with herds of cattle cannot be confirmed, but should not be 
completely ruled out. 
 
¶15.  (SBU)  The consensus within the Goma diplomatic community is 
that over two thousand people claiming to be refugees have arrived 
in North Kivu from Rwanda since the middle of this year.  This 
figure almost certainly does not represent the total number of 
arrivals, and may only be a fraction of the total.  Based on what 
was seen in eyewitness reports, the UNHCR/CNR number of 12,000 
returnees is certainly plausible, but is most likely a high 
 
KINSHASA 00001052  003 OF 005 
 
 
estimate.  A more realistic, although still significant number, 
would be in the 3,000-6,000 range. 
 
Tutsis Leaving Rwanda 
--------------------- 
 
¶16.  (SBU) All sources, including the refugees themselves, indicate 
that the vast majority of new arrivals are ethnic Tutsis.  Anecdotal 
evidence suggests that most of them are young adults traveling in 
ones and twos and are not attached to larger families.  For 
instance, the local Congolese employee who rode the bus from Kibumba 
toward Kitchanga reported that of the approximately 40 people from 
Rwanda who lined up to get on the bus that morning, only two 
families were in the group.  One was a couple with one child, while 
the other couple had three children.  Both families appeared to be 
Hutu and all others were young Tutsi adults in the 18-30 age group. 
Viature, president of the Kahe camp, however, asserted that the 
recent arrivals from Rwanda at his camp comprised a normal mix of 
young, old and families with children. 
 
¶17.  (SBU) Those crossing from Rwanda claim to be Congolese Tutsi 
refugees who fled to Rwanda in the 1990s.  Viature said a "large 
majority" had been living in the Rwandan camps, mainly at Kibuye and 
Byumba, though a significant number say they were Congolese who had 
been living out of the camps amongst the Rwandan population. 
Virtually none, however, possess refugee documentation.  Of over 700 
registered at Kibumba by ACCO/CNR only three possessed papers 
identifying themselves as refugees.  This is in spite of the fact 
that most of the returnees said they were from camps and spelled out 
what zone and block they came from. 
 
¶18.  (SBU) Viature explained the lack of refugee ID/ration cards by 
saying the refugees had sold them before leaving the camps in 
Rwanda.  The going rate is 15,000 Rwandan Francs ($27).  UNHCR is in 
the process of cross-checking the Kahe names with the names of those 
registered in the Rwandan camps.  The UNHCR rep in Kitchanga 
confirmed the cross-checking process, but reported that so far only 
about 20 of the 305 Kahe family names had shown up on UNHCR's 
Rwandan camp lists. 
 
¶19.  (SBU) People leaving Rwanda tell an almost identical story. 
Life in Rwanda is "difficult" and they heard that conditions have 
improved in Congo, so they have returned.  Those living in the camps 
say their rations in Rwanda had been cut, which UNHCR maintains is 
not true.  Some outside the camps complain that they do not have 
enough land to farm or raise cattle and that better established 
local Rwandan populations keep them from the best land. 
 
¶20.  (SBU) A returnee we interviewed said it was difficult to make a 
living in Rwanda because goods there are too expensive.  She said in 
1995 she had fled Nyanzale for Rwanda along with her brother.  Now, 
with a husband and six children, she decided to return because she 
had heard that conditions in that area had improved.  Her brother, 
who she said had come back to Congo more than a year ago, had also 
encouraged her.  After crossing via Kibumba, she bought a taxi 
ticket on credit and went to Kirolirwe via Goma.  When she learned 
that conditions in Nyanzale remained too dangerous, she decided to 
come to the camp in Kitchanga.  Her brother lives in Kitchanga town. 
 When asked what he does for a job, she initially said "nothing" and 
then clarified that "he cultivates with the others." 
 
¶21.  (SBU) According to Viature, the refugees have not left the camp 
Q21.  (SBU) According to Viature, the refugees have not left the camp 
to move back to their old homes in the DRC.  Indeed, since 
September, only eight IDPs out of a total of 3,650 families have 
left the camp to go home but none of these were returnees from 
Rwanda. 
 
Degree of Organization 
---------------------- 
 
¶22.  (SBU) Some of the stories imply an almost military-like 
precision and organization to the population movements.  This may be 
an exaggeration, but observations suggest at least some, if not a 
significant amount, of coordination and coaching.  Evidence of this 
includes the following: 
 
-- According to the Congolese employee who rode the 
Kibumba-Kitchanga bus, Kinyarwanda-speaking ex-CNDP soldiers were on 
hand at Kibumba to identify and protect the new arrivals. 
 
-- He noted that the passengers from Rwanda appeared to be 
knowledgeable about prices for tickets and bribes along the way and 
about how to procure fake Congolese identification papers while 
being otherwise unfamiliar with North Kivu.  As they excitedly 
approached Goma only one of the other 18 passengers appeared to know 
 
KINSHASA 00001052  004 OF 005 
 
 
where the town was. 
 
-- All the refugees told almost precisely the same story:  they were 
Congolese refugees who left for Rwanda in the 1990s; and they left 
Rwanda because conditions were difficult there and because they had 
heard rumors that things had improved considerably in Masisi. 
 
¶23.  (SBU) Although the most organized part of the operation appears 
to be the bus transport between Kibumba and Masisi, upon close 
examination this appears to be a case of entrepreneurial drivers and 
dispatchers flexibly responding to market demand. 
 
Official Attitudes and Actions 
------------------------------ 
 
¶24.  (SBU) Congolese officials appear to be making no serious 
efforts to stop the refugee flows.  Rather, they appear to be trying 
to keep track of the movements and, in some cases, to profit from 
the movements.  At the Kabahunga border post about 3-4 kilometers 
east of Kibumba, border officials have a very relaxed attitude 
toward the border crossings.  They confirmed that crossborder 
movement had recently increased beyond the normal market day 
movements.  Few people actually walk across at the formal border 
crossing, as that is limited to vehicle traffic only.  Most cross 
the open border at whatever point is most convenient and head for 
Kibumba, which is a hive of activity on market days. 
 
¶25.  (SBU) Our Congolese contact noted that DGM officials in Kibumba 
appeared to facilitate the movement of those crossing the border by 
asking their nationality and then verbally confirming that they were 
Congolese before the returnee could respond.  The ANR officer 
inspecting the bus made scant effort to confirm the identification 
of those crossing the border.  When he did, it turned out to be an 
attempt to solicit a bribe.  Later, as the bus reached a check point 
at Sake, the driver collected money from the passengers so they 
could pass without being stopped and questioned, i.e., asked about 
their nationality. 
 
¶26.  (SBU) Practically all Congolese Tutsis in North Kivu -- whether 
affiliated with CNDP, RCD or politically independent  -- support the 
return of the Tutsi refugees from Rwanda and Burundi, although they 
assert that the current movement is very small and very spontaneous. 
 They complain that practically all other Congolese refugees were 
able to return to Congo before the 2006 elections except for the 
Tutsis (Note: The mostly Hutu refugees in Uganda also did not 
return, although our interlocutors did not mention this fact.  End 
note). 
 
¶27.  (SBU) From the North Kivu side of the border, currently there 
are no signs that the Rwandan Government is doing anything to "push" 
people to the DRC.  There is some surprise  however, at the 
consistent refrain from the returning refugees that they are being 
given an economic "push" because life has become more difficult in 
Rwanda.  UNHCR notes that Kigali is aware of the population 
movements, adding that it could do more to control the movements if 
it wanted. 
 
¶28.  (SBU) Comment:  Rumors of significant population flows from 
Rwanda to North Kivu are true, although the precise nmbers and 
status of the individuals remain uncertain.  UNHCR, which would 
normally be expected to engage on issues related to crossborder 
population movements, has been reluctant act.  An internal UNHCR 
document dated November 10 concluded that "until such time as the 
identity of these individuals (crossing the border) can be confirmed 
Qidentity of these individuals (crossing the border) can be confirmed 
with UNHCR Rwanda, the bulk of these persons are not considered to 
be spontaneous refugee returnees, and are therefore not within 
UNHCR's mandate."  The continued movement is increasing calls for 
action on the part of UNHCR, but a meeting of the Tripartite refugee 
mechanism between the UNHCR, DRC and Rwanda, already postponed once, 
was postponed again on November 24.  More importantly, this refugee 
movement is a political bombshell.  Local chiefs in Masisi strongly 
oppose it, and have warned of an "invasion" of 40,000 Tutsi 
families.  Many believe this movement is related to the issue of 
land-grabbing by ex-CNDP integrated into FARDC, which this year have 
moved into the Bisie mines and violently pushed civilians, primarily 
Hutus and Hunde, from areas around Nyabiondo and Lukweti.  Fears 
that Tutsis will move back to their land has fueled the growth of 
Mai Mai groups to defend locals from the outsiders.  Some 
politicians, including former North Kivu Governor Eugene Serufuli 
(reftel), have encouraged Congolese IDPs to return to their home 
areas by warning them that if they do not, Rwandan Tutsis will come 
to take their land.  A major political battle looms over land.  If, 
as appears likely, refugees continue to return and move into areas 
now held by others, North Kivu, especially Masisi, could turn 
violent once again.  End Comment. 
 
KINSHASA 00001052  005 OF 005 
 
 
 
Garvelink