A look at the African countries where refugees could return

By Associated Press

Feb 13, 2004 — Countries where the U.N. refugee agency sees “cautious optimism” for major returns in the next few years.

ANGOLA — A peace accord signed between the government and UNITA rebels in April 2002 has held. Many of the estimated 3.7 refugees and displaced people have already returned home, but problems remain, including land mines, poor infrastructure, a fragile economic situation, lack of job opportunities and poor administration in remote areas.

SIERRA LEONE — Around 270,000 people have gone home — mainly from Guinea and Liberia — following rapid advances in the peace process in the country’s decade-long civil war. Another 70,000 remain outside the country.

LIBERIA — UNHCR hopes that the estimated 320,000 refugees spread across West Africa can return to their homes over the next three years, beginning in October. However, the agency fears more instability in the country and the region unless an effective demobilization program for former fighters is put in place.

SUDAN — With the peace process continuing between southern rebels and the government in the north, UNHCR anticipates that some 150,000 of the estimated 600,000 Sudanese refugees could return over an 18-month period from late 2004. However, renewed fighting in the west of the country has seen thousands of new refugees in recent months, with around 100,000 people now believed to be living in border areas of Chad.

ERITREA — Around 103,000 refugees have returned home since 2001, but the government of Sudan estimates that it is still hosting another 300,000, many of whom have been there since the 1960s. UNHCR plans to hold a meeting with the government of both countries later this month to try to push the process along.

SOMALIA — Much of the country is still unstable and insecure, but UNHCR is carrying out voluntary returns to the northern part of Somalia. Some 467,000 people have gone home in the past 12 years, but around 400,000 remain spread across the world.

BURUNDI — The hope for returns was boosted in early January when the rebel faction announced that it was willing to talk with Burundi’s president. Despite the absence of a peace agreement, 35,000 people went home last year, and UNHCR estimates that 150,000 of the 600,000 remaining refugees — mostly hosted by Tanzania — will go home during 2004.

RWANDA — Some 2 million Rwandans fled their homes in 1994 during the genocide that left more than 500,000 people dead. Only 80,000 refugees are estimated to remain, in seven countries.

CONGO — UNHCR is currently preparing a plan for the return of some 350,000 refugees from neighboring countries, but there is still sporadic fighting in some parts of the east and northeast.