The plight of refugees in Africa’s Great Lakes region under discussion by experts the region

Participants at the experts meeting on refugees in the Great Lakes region (Photo: UN/Penangnini Toure)

6 Mar 2019

The plight of refugees in Africa’s Great Lakes region under discussion by experts the region

Kampala (Uganda), 6 March 2019 - Government experts from the Great Lakes region concluded today a meeting in Kampala, Uganda, to review and agree on concrete recommendations for comprehensive and durable solutions on the plight of refugees in the region with a focus on local integration.

Currently over four million refugees and asylum seekers originate from the Great Lakes region, including from Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan and Sudan. Continued high levels of new forced displacement combined with the protracted presence of refugees in the region constitutes a source of tension and mistrust between neighboring countries. The experts expressed concern over the scale and scope of the refugee crisis in the Great Lakes region and, especially its disproportionate impact on women and children.

The two-day meeting of experts preceded a meeting of Government ministers on the third day which will review the recommendations made by the experts and adopt an outcome document to guide future strategies and actions on the refugees’ situation in the Great Lakes region.

Participants in the experts meeting included representatives of the signatory countries of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework (Framework agreement), the United Nations, the diplomatic corps and civil society organizations.