A “cessation clause” invoked by the UN could remove protections for many of the world’s 100,000 Rwandan refugees.<\/p>\n
by Yoletta Nyange<\/p>\n
Yoletta Nyange is a Rwandan-born journalist who has lived and worked across several countries including UK, Venezuela, Tunisia, Ethiopia and the Sudans, covering international affairs.<\/p>\n
Story highlights:\u00a0 The Rwandan government has come to realise that casting all exiles as ‘genocidaires’ was clumsy and deeply harmful to its attempt to brand itself as a business-friendly ‘Singapore of Africa’.<\/em><\/p>\n —<\/p>\n On June 30, roughly 100,000 Rwandan refugees around the world lost their refugee status and could become stateless if they do not return to Rwanda.<\/p>\n Arguing that Rwandan refugees no longer have a reasonable fear of persecution if they return, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has invoked a “cessation clause” applying to Rwandans who fled their country before December 31, 1998.<\/p>\n The clause essentially frees host countries from their economic, political and ethical duty to provide sanctuary and services to refugees. As a result, Rwandan refugees fear losing their food ration cards, having their children expelled from school, being fired from their jobs, and being pushed into the abyss of statelessness.<\/p>\n