Angela Dikonge sacked from UNHCR in DRCongo: Please appoint someone who will protect refugees

The departure of Angella Dikonge Atangana from UNHCR in DRC brings hope for a brighter future for refugees in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The news came in recently indicating that UNHCR Country Representative in the Democratic Republic of Congo Madam Angella Dikonge Atananga was transferred to another country and was replaced.

Yet very few refugees knew about her, very few refugees know about UNHCR, very few refugees in DRC can argue about UNHCR work.

She has been in this office for the last three (3) and as the driver of UNHCR agenda in DRC, Angela did not do much in terms of ensure the protection of refugees and did not have neither clear programme nor a clear vision, not even ambition. Instead of focusing on the protection of refugees Angela developed passion on issues around Internally Displaced Persons, UNHCR in DRC is known as for humanitarian assistance to IDPs. She lives the office in Kinshasa when in Kivu refugees are facing all the abuses of this world and no one speaks for them, especially Rwandan refugees who are killed, deported, and taken to unknown destination by Rwanda’s regime.

Yet with the progress of M23 backed by Rwanda, Madam Angela could have provided pathways alternatives to refugees and ensure that they are protected. During her time in Office Angela discouraged efforts to ensure the protection of refugees, for the last five years the number of refugees in DRC has not increased because they were not granted refugee status, on contrary the number of refugees reduced because many were subjected to forced repatriation and other forms of deportation.

For the last three years Rwanda has argued that Hutu refugees in DRC are members of FDRL and armed against Rwanda, therefore the need to intervene military in DRC but Angela kept silent and distanced herself from refugees both in DRC and in the region. For the last three years UNHCR Field officers in DRC have used the security services in order to threaten actors of the Civil working on the protection of refugees, instead of strengthening and supporting them to do better and do more.  

We congratulate UNHCR for taking such decision to end her work in DRC, and encourage UNHCR to appoint a country representative who will show a strong leadership in the protection of refugees especially Rwandan refugees who are at the center of conflict between Rwanda and DRC.

Thanks

Kulihoshi Musikami Pecos

Executive Director