The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have agreed to resume the voluntary repatriation of thousands of Congolese refugees currently living in Zambia, according to a joint statement.
The agreement was reached following a three-day tripartite meeting held in Kolwezi, the capital of Lualaba Province in southeastern DR Congo.
Officials said the renewed repatriation effort will begin with strengthened data collection on refugees willing to return, followed by a joint assessment of conditions both in Zambia and in the refugees’ areas of origin. The assessment exercise is scheduled to take place from March 10 to 12.
Authorities also agreed to intensify awareness campaigns on voluntary return and mobilize funding to support refugees during the repatriation process.
Eric Mukandila, representing the Congolese delegation, said technical working groups will hold regular meetings – either in person or virtually – to ensure continued consultation and coordination throughout the process.
DR Congo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Jacquemain Shabani, said security conditions in several regions that previously forced civilians to flee are gradually improving, allowing for the safe return of displaced citizens.
UNHCR’s representative in DR Congo, Pierre Atchom, welcomed the progress made so far, noting that stabilization efforts in some refugee-origin areas are creating conditions for voluntary repatriation.
According to UNHCR data, about 67,000 Congolese refugees currently reside in Zambia, with 11,523 already repatriated between 2023 and 2025.
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