Central Africa and the Great Lakes

Response in 2015    

In April 2015, protest in Burundi, which was sparked by the incumbent President’s contested bid and successful election for a third consecutive term, resulted in violent retaliation by government forces, forcing over 230,000 Burundians to flee to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda,  Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania (Tanzania) and Zambia. 

In the Central African Republic (CAR), the situation remained volatile with sporadic clashes in the capital, Bangui, and rural areas. Renewed violence in September and November reversed return trends, provoking the internal displacement of up to 75,000 people and causing the aggregate number of internally displaced people (IDPs) to reach 451,000. Religious minorities inside the country were regularly targeted, and growing insecurity on the border forced an additional 60,000 people to flee to Cameroon, Chad, the DRC and the Republic of Congo (Congo), bringing the number of refugees in neighbouring countries to 462,000 by the end of the year. In addition to hosting 252,000 refugees from the CAR, Cameroon’s Far North region continued to be affected by the Boko Haram insurgency. Cross-border incursions led to the internal displacement of 92,000 people and an influx of an additional 29,000 Nigerian refugees, reaching a total of 68,000 people in 2015. 

Despite ongoing armed conflicts in eastern DRC and increased violence in North Kivu, stakeholders working within the context of the IDP cluster facilitated the relocation of over 736,000 IDPs following the closure of five camps, and updated statistical data, further reducing the total internally displaced population by 457,000 people to1.6 million.in 2015. The ongoing crises in the CAR and Burundi forced an additional 40,000 refugees into the north-west of the DRC (North and South Ubangi and Bas-Uele) and 20,000 refugees into the east (South Kivu), and fighting in South Sudan caused more than 3,800 new South Sudanese to flee to the Haut-Uele province, in the north-east, in December. Over 500,000  refugees from the DRC were hosted in neighbouring countries at the end of 2015, primarily in Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

Populations of concern

Refugees from Burundi, Nigeria and the CAR

In 2015, UNHCR ensured access to asylum and provided protection and multisectoral assistance to refugees from Burundi and the CAR. The response for Burundians was particularly  informed by the need to preserve the civilian character of asylum and prevent sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Save for arrivals into Zambia, biometric registration was carried out in all countries of asylum. Community-based protection initiatives and education assistance prioritized the protection of children against forced recruitment. Water and sanitation (WASH) and health capacities were scaled up, new camps were opened, and the construction of semi-permanent shelters was accelerated. For refugees from CAR in Cameroon, UNHCR began collaborating with local actors to extend livelihoods, shelter and health interventions to host communities, where 70 percent of the refugee population is settled. Further north, UNHCR prioritized the relocation of Nigerian refugees from dangerous border areas to protect them from refoulement and provide them with assistance in Minawao camp. In Cameroon, Chad and Congo, UNHCR facilitated the participation of CAR refugees in CAR elections which are seen as vital to the creation of conducive conditions for return.

IDPs in the CAR, Cameroon and the DRC

For IDPs in the CAR and in the DRC, UNHCR focused on meeting core relief item, shelter and protection needs, and promoted conflict resolution and human rights awareness activities to work towards peaceful coexistence. Given the effects of the crises on the demographic makeup and the difficulties of returning to areas of origin, resilience and empowerment were key components of the protection strategies in both countries. In the CAR, where there was an absence of state authority and a climate of impunity in some regions, this approach sought to sustain cohesiveness. In Cameroon’s Far North, UNHCR provided support for the coordination of IDP response by designing strategies, collecting data and developing guidance. The Office also provided basic material assistance and shelter. 

Solutions for Burundians, Congolese (DRC), Newly Naturalised Tanzanians and Rwandans

In 2015, UNHCR supported the repatriation of 805 DRC refugees from the CAR. Out of the 3.3 million Rwandans who sought asylum and returned to Rwanda since 1994, UNHCR assisted the return of some 5,000 people in 2015. In Tanzania, the naturalization and local integration programme for over 162,000 Newly Naturalised Tanzanians (former 1972 Burundian refugees) was initiated, and nearly 153,000 new citizens received their citizenship certificates. In Burundi, although more than half of the people whose cases were submitted for resettlement fled from the country due to the crisis, UNHCR met its submission target and resettled over 1,800 individuals. In Rwanda, UNHCR exceeded its target for Congolese (DRC) refugees who have lived in the country for more than two decades, managing to resettle nearly 2,600 through the UNHCR-US resettlement programme. Finally, in July, a resettlement exercise for some 30,000 Congolese (DRC) living Tanzania was launched, while some 2,300 people were resettled during the year. 

Challenges and unmet needs

In 2015, in response to localized violence and cross-border incursions in the region, security measures were tightened, further reducing freedom of movement and shrinking humanitarian space. Preserving the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum proved particularly challenging. Interest in voluntary repatriation remained very low across the region. In some instances, a barrier for the allocation of additional land  to host new Burundian refugees was a concern over the environmental impact of camp development. Host communities’ ability to absorb new arrivals dwindled, and food insecurity soared. 

Operations

Operations in Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo (Republic of the), the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and the United Republic of Tanzania are presented in separate country pages.

Gabon

In 2015, the Government of Gabon provided training for staff on international protection and assigned additional staff to the National Refugee Commission (CNR) with a view to strengthening the refugee determination process. UNHCR’s activities prioritized the protection of people with specific needs who require urgent assistance, notably through self-reliance activities; some 680 consultations on refugee rights, as well as referrals and the distribution of material support, were carried out. Furthermore, over 360 children were enrolled in primary school and 120 in secondary school, with the latter provided with school kits. Moreover, eligible candidates benefited from vocational training. In 2015, little progress was made towards developing a comprehensive solutions strategy for Chadian refugees. This will need to be pursued in 2016.