Uganda expanded its area of influence at the expense of Rwanda, which had not been consulted and took umbrage... and woke up the M23 rebels. And the war has resumed in eastern Congo," said a Western diplomat based in Kampala.
For Congolese fleeing armed groups, Uganda is a valuable refuge. It is also one of the few countries in the world to pursue a policy of open borders for refugees from neighbouring countries. "It is the country in Africa that hosts the most refugees (1.5 million), and they have complete freedom of movement, the right to work, access to health and education. Everything but the right to vote," said Philippe Kuessan of UNHCR's Uganda office.
"President Museveni, in power since 1986, likes to show the world that his country is an oasis of stability," said a Western diplomat based in Kampala.
But why pursue such a policy?
« President Museveni, in power since 1986, likes to show the world that his country is an oasis of stability," said a Western diplomat based in Kampala. "This is true, except that he is also involved in the problems ravaging neighboring countries, both in South Sudan and Congo, where he takes advantage of the instability to carry out lucrative trafficking. After a suicide attack by the Islamist terrorist group ADF in its capital last October, the Ugandan government asked Kinshasa to be able to send troops to Congo to hunt down its fighters. This allowed Uganda to expand its area of influence at the expense of Rwanda, which had not been consulted and took umbrage... and woke up the M23 rebels. And the war has resumed in eastern Congo... »
In addition, Ugandan troops, who had already fought in the DRC in the early 2000s, behave in Congo as in conquered territory: illegal exploitation of resources (wood, gold, coltan...), massive violations of human rights denounced in particular by Amnesty International. Which contribute to the flight of Congolese civilians to Uganda... A lasting solution to such humanitarian tragedies should therefore first require a genuine political dialogue for peace.
"Where are all these young refugees going?"
Moreover, while Uganda generously opens its borders to refugees, it is mainly international humanitarian donors who are footing the bill. "The Ugandan government is promoting the settlement of refugees in impoverished areas of the country where it has invested little," said one humanitarian actor. "Because he knows that foreign partners will develop infrastructure that will greatly benefit local populations: schools, health centers, water supply. »
Moreover, as Human Rights Watch explains, "Uganda's 2021 elections, again won by President Yoweri Museveni, were marred by violence and repressive tactics. Security forces arbitrarily arrested and beat opposition supporters and journalists, killed protesters, and disrupted opposition rallies. »
« Museveni can brandish the one and a half million refugees his country is sheltering to avoid being too accountable to the international community for human and political rights. " says Ugandan journalist Ignatius Mujisha Bahizi. "And it's good to welcome refugees, but you have to be able to take care of them. There are already not enough secondary schools for Ugandan citizens: where will all these young refugees go? The situation is really tense... »
Journalist at the World Service
By Véronique Kiesel/Le Soir
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