13/1/2006
Agreement Clears Way For 70,000 Sudanese Refugees To Return

The first part of an agreement clearing the way for up to 70,000 refugees to return to South Sudan in the first half of this year was signed last week by the UN refugee agency (UNCHR) and the Governments of Sudan and Kenya in Nairobi, Kenya. UNCHR plans to help some 70,000 refugees go back to South Sudan from exile in neighbouring countries before the start of the rainy season in May or June.

All sides agree that any returns should be voluntary and Sudan pledged to ensure that refugees could return in safety and dignity. Kenya pledged to continue to safeguard the rights of refugees who decide to stay in Kenya for now.

It is intended that the agreement should be followed by similar pacts between Sudan, UNHCR and other countries of asylum, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Central African Republic.

The agreement was signed exactly one year and three days after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended 21 years of North-South civil war in Sudan was also endorsed in Nairobi.

There are some 550,000 South Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries, and at least 5 million more Sudanese displaced within their own country. It is estimated that last year some 70,000 to 80,000 refugees returned to South Sudan on their own.