Briefing Paper

Toward a Regional Solution for Rwanda’s Returning Refugees

“Going back as far as the 1950s, conflicts between Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda have resulted in large flows of forced migration throughout East Africa. Understanding differences among Rwandan refugees groups is essential for developing effective management, integration and repatriation
strategies. Rwanda’s current policy response toward returnees favours groups with
existing capacity for repatriation, and ignores others with lower incomes. Any viable national policy toward migrant reintegration must complement the regional migration approach and freedom of movement within the East African Community (EAC).”