Press Release on the appoint of the New Head on Refugee Commission in North Kivu DRCongo
Press statement on the appointment of the New Head of the Refugee Commission (CNR) in North Kivu Province, the Democratic Republic of Congo by the Government.
On Saturday April 5th, 2025 we received information about the appointment of the Head of the DRC National Commission for Refugees in North Kivu, known as CNR. Lwambo Mupfuni was appointed as the very time when the DRC Minister of Internal Affairs was in field visit in Beni where the Province Headquarters have been relocated.
We humbly welcome Lwambo’s appointment and wish him all the best, we pledge to collaborate and offer him all necessary support we are able to help achieve his dream in this noble cause. Issues affecting refugees in North Kivu are so many but generally connected to the lack of the protection and this is one among the things we are going to focus on urgently.
We thank everybody who in one way or the other joined and supported our advocacy for the change of CNR leadership in North Kivu, this has been a long and tiresome efforts which we started in 2022. Obviously the struggle is not yet over but we believe the presence of Lwambo will usher us in new opportunities which we should capitalize for the protection of refugees in North Kivu.
Currently we may not have much to do because at least 60% of the North Kivu Province is occupied by AFC/M23 backed by Rwanda, and this has exposed so much refugees at risks. However we are may explore opportunities to work with his team in Beni, North Kivu. Lwambo comes from the Civil Society background and from Masisi Territory which is highly affected by the refugee crisis over the years. He understands the challenges and the burden of hosting refugees, however he may lack experience on how to manage refugee issues.
North Kivu Province hosts a huge number of Rwandan refugees who came in different episodes and at the same time North Kivu has been targeted by Rwanda since 1996 up to now, in order to justify the war in DRC, Rwanda has always claimed that refugees are armed and members of FDLR. Over the years Rwanda influenced the nomination of CNR officers and those who there were mainly close to Rwanda which affected seriously the desire of refugee protection.
While CNR was problem in North Kivu, there are also reforms that are needed at the national level in order to define a clear DRC Refugee Policy and actors who can promote the protection of refugees. In the same way, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in DRC needs also reforms as in most cases it also plays roles in various refugee rights violations.
As we appreciate all your efforts for this positive move, let us remain mobilized in order to ensure the protection of refugees in DRCongo in general and in North Kivu in particular.
Thanks
Kulihoshi Musikami Pecos
Executive Director
Global Refugee Leaders Forum, a Project of COJESKI North Kivu, the Democratic Republic of Congo
Tel: +243853191163
Email: refugeeleadersforum@gmail.com
