The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda are expected to engage in "constructive dialogue" to create favorable conditions for the sustainable return of refugee populations in both countries.

The decision, made on Monday in Geneva, Switzerland, will see Kinshasa and Kigali work on better ways to assume this responsibility, in accordance with the agreement signed under the auspices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

A first tripartite technical meeting between the DRC, Rwanda, and the UNHCR will be held in Nairobi within a month, according to a joint communiqué signed by Christophe Lutundula, the Congolese deputy prime minister in charge of foreign affairs, Kayisire Marie Solange, the Rwandan minister in charge of emergency management, and Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

The Congolese government, the Rwandan government, and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees signed an agreement in Kigali on the voluntary repatriation of Congolese refugees living in Rwanda and Rwandan refugees living in Congo on February 17, 2010. On July 30, the two governments and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees signed the modalities for the repatriation of these refugees in Goma, DRC.

Currently, there is ongoing conflict due to the reemergence of the M23, a Congolese rebel group that the Congolese government accuses of receiving support from Rwanda. This conflict has led to tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali, particularly regarding the issue of refugees from both countries.

However, on Monday, May 15, the governments of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) jointly issued a statement in Geneva. In this statement, they committed to addressing various challenges related to the security of returning refugees, sharing information about living conditions in areas of return, including raising awareness among communities, and facilitating reintegration efforts.

Christophe Lutundula and Kayisire Marie Solange assure that their nations will "sustain access to asylum for individuals requiring international safeguarding."