Zambia: Attempts to convince Rwandans to return

The Zambian government is hosting a delegation of former Rwandan refugees later this month to convince their compatriots to return home, a senior official told IRIN. "We have been battling to convince the Rwandans to go home," said Jacob Mphepo, Zambia's commissioner for refugees. There are currently 6,376 Rwandans in Zambia, of which 4,389 are in refugee camps. Frustrated by the reluctance of Rwandan refugees to repatriate, Mphepo said his office was considering ceasing to recognise Rwandan asylum seekers as refugees.