Most Rwandan refugees in Malawi are reluctant to go back home twenty years after the genocide in their country, representatives of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) disclose.
Rwanda has this week been commemorating the 20th anniversary of the genocide which killed over 800 thousand people.
Malawi is still keeping over five thousand Rwandan refugees.
Malawians have been asking why they are still being hosted here despite peace having returned to their home land.
Speaking to the media, UNHCR Country Representative to Malawi is George Kuchio said “we have been asking them to return to Rwanda however, these refugees are quite reluctant; they do not want to return to Rwanda.”
According to Kuchio, the refugees are citing several reasons for not wanting to return to their homeland.
“They say if they return home; they will not be able to express themselves politically, they also say they will not be able to get their property back…as others are claiming that their land had been taken, they also fear to be discriminated against,” Kuchio explained.
He disclosed to the media that, a couple of days ago, he had spoken to the commissioner of refugees advising him to contact the Rwandese government officials, to come and talk to their people and assure them that their concerns will be addressed.
