Congo-Kinshasa: Congolese Refugees Caught Between War and Closing Doors

What the report says

A new analysis published by the Institute for Security Studies and carried by AllAfrica says Congolese refugees are being squeezed by two forces at once: continuing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and growing restrictions in neighboring host countries. The report focuses on the effects of fighting involving M23, the wider displacement crisis in the Great Lakes region, and the limits of current peace efforts to deliver safe, voluntary return.

The article says Rwanda and the DRC reaffirmed in June their commitment to refugee return, building on earlier peace arrangements linked to the Washington accords and the Doha process. But the authors argue that conditions on the ground remain unstable, with large-scale displacement continuing after M23 captured key eastern DRC cities in 2025. They cite UNHCR data showing 1.25 million Congolese refugees and asylum seekers in June 2026, most hosted in neighboring countries, alongside new arrivals over the past year and a half.

The piece highlights funding shortfalls that have weakened humanitarian support in places such as Burundi and Uganda. It also says border rules, encampment policies and tighter movement controls are making it harder for refugees to travel, work or access protection. In some cases, the report says, returns have been spontaneous rather than fully safe or organized.

The authors argue that repatriation promises in peace talks do not match realities for refugees living under insecurity, suspicion and shrinking aid. They call for stronger protection measures, regional coordination and sustained donor support so that any returns are truly voluntary and not driven by hardship.