The UN refugee agency needs $25 million to maintain repatriation programs after facilitating more than 42,000 returns across West and Central Africa during 2025, bringing the four-year total past 272,000 people. Regional Director Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde warned from Dakar that insufficient funding threatens planned operations supporting an additional 10,000 refugees from Nigeria and the Central African Republic expected to depart camps before year's end.
UNHCR aims to help 60,000 Central Africans leave Cameroon and Chad in 2026 as part of projections reaching 300,000 returnees by 2028, while agreements signed in February enable safe passage for Nigerian refugees from Chad. Peace accords concluded between the DRC and Rwanda in Washington during June, followed by July negotiations in Doha with M23 rebels, reinforced voluntary return principles. The agency supported 5,000 repatriations this year and anticipates assisting 10,000 Rwandan refugees departing the DRC next year, though security conditions remain fragile across affected regions.
UNHCR aims to help 60,000 Central Africans leave Cameroon and Chad in 2026 as part of projections reaching 300,000 returnees by 2028, while agreements signed in February enable safe passage for Nigerian refugees from Chad. Peace accords concluded between the DRC and Rwanda in Washington during June, followed by July negotiations in Doha with M23 rebels, reinforced voluntary return principles. The agency supported 5,000 repatriations this year and anticipates assisting 10,000 Rwandan refugees departing the DRC next year, though security conditions remain fragile across affected regions.
