15 January 2004

Kinshasa, DR Congo: December was a remarkable month for former combatants, their wives and children from Uganda and Rwanda residing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In a unique effort, 401 Ugandan and 66 Rwandan rebels were successfully reintegrated into civilian life in an extraordinary operation organized and implemented by the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) and the UN Volunteers (UNV) programme.

MONUC, established in November 1999 to safeguard contact with the DRC and the five regional states that signed the Lusaka ceasefire agreement earlier that year, was asked by the Government of the DRC to organize the reintegration of individuals into civilian life. UN Volunteer Patrick-Cyrille Garba led MONUC's Disarmament, Demobilization, Repatriation, Reinstallation and Resettlement Division (DDRRR) reintegration initiative. His team comprised of 2 DDRRR officers, 1 logistic officer, 1 security officer, 1 information officer, 1 field service administrator, 1 generator technician, 1 building management engineering section technician, 1 electronic data processing assistant, 1 radio okapi journalist, 1 cameraman and 4 interpreters, arrived in Kitona on 8 December 2003.

Following a debriefing by the base military commander, Colonel Nduwa, the team met with the leaders of the Ugandan and Rwandan ex-combatants. "As usual, the leaders tried to make us discuss internal politics of their countries. We made it clear however, that our task was to sensitize them on the MONUC DDRRR programme, and to tell them more about the reinsertion and reintegration processes in their countries," Demobilization Officer and team leader, Garba, recollected. Until that time, 277 Ugandan - 72 Rwandan – and 21 Congolese disarmed ex-combatants, in addition to 3 Rwandan and 95 Congolese women and 121 children were relocated by the Congolese army from Ilebo and Kananga in central DRC, to Kitona, a military base in the country’s west.

Recognizing the importance of involving the ex-combatants’ wives in the proceedings, the team organized a meeting for all the women at the camp. The objective was to ensure that they, too, were informed of the repatriation process and were willing to join their husbands in their return home.

After 3 days of dialogue, Garba’s team convinced the leaders of the former Ugandan rebels to take part in the repatriation process. Screening and reintegration started on 13 December and was completed by 17 December 2003. Five airplanes were chartered to facilitate the transport of 401 women, men and children from the DRC to Uganda. Further repatriations followed as 66 Rwandans voiced their desire to be sent home as well. Their wish was fulfilled on 18 December.

However, for those who wanted to stay in the DRC short-term accommodations were provided. A group of 53 women and children were placed in the hands of the Congolese authorities after the women opted not to join their husbands and a group of 29 Rwandan ex- combatants also remained behind. The tragedy of the hardships encountered, however, failed to dampen Garba’s optimism toward the nature of disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, reinstallation and resettlement work and the extraordinary spirit of the operation. "It is the first time that MONUC repatriated so many persons in less than two weeks. Twice the team received congratulations from the Special Representative of the Secretary General, William Lacy Swing," the proud Demobilization Officer said.
He also recognized the contribution made by the international community to the reintegration initiative’s success. “The commitment to the programme demonstrated by the supporters of the Lusaka Agreement have made it possible to move forward with MONUC’s rehabilitation and reconstruction plans. UNV Programme Manager Paulin Djomo (Cameroon) and the UN Volunteers serving with MONUC steadfast and unwavering support have been instrumental in making this mission a success”.