Rwanda-DRC: New project to improve access to justice for cross-border populations

Elias Hakizimana Sep 30, 2023Sep 30, 2023 0 Comments

The Inspirer.

Cross-border people to the Great Lakes Region especially those passing from Rusizi and Rubavu districts borders will soon have access to justice through a new project that seeks to reduce tensions and strengthen stability and tackle legal issues facing the citizens.

Dubbed ‘Uhaki Bila Mipaka-Strengthening Access to Justice in the Great Lakes Region’, the 4-year project that was officially launched in Kigali on September 28, 2023, is implemented from December 01, 2022 to November 30, 2026, around the borders of between Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda.

On the side of Rwanda, the project covers 5 borders namely; La Corniche and Poids Lourds in Rubavu District, Rusizi 1, Rusizi 2 and Bugarama in Rusizi District.

As they cross, border users sometimes encounter various legal problems, especially since most of them do not know their rights and responsibilities, and therefore they sometimes face problems that include passports, human trafficking crimes and illegal border crossing.

**Participants to the launch of the ‘Uhaki Bila Mipaka-Strengthening Access to Justice in the Great Lakes Region’ project.**

Jeannette Uwajeneza, Head of Good Governance Department in Rubavu District says that there are residents who used to face problems of violence, expropriation and security. She said that the new project will help to tackle these problems through adequate information sharing.

“This project will provide legal assistance through a joint follow up of the issues raised by cross-border people, we will manage to interact directly with the offices at the borders to know what is going o and find solutions to available legal issues,” Uwajeneza said.

**Jeannette Uwajeneza, Head of Good Governance Department in Rubavu District during the interview with the media.**

Ariane Inkesha, Country Director of the International Organization for Peace in Rwanda (International Alert Rwanda), says that the Uhaki Bila Mipaka project will have an office at each border so that citizens can go there and get help.

“We have offices dubbed ‘Legal Clinics’ at all those borders where citizens can find lawyers and get help without paying the bill and, an emphasis is given to those who cross the borders every day,”

Theophile Mbonera, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice said that the rationale of this project is that it will provide assistance in the field of legal provisions and will prevent the abuse faced by cross-border populations.

**Theophile Mbonera, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice speaking to the press.**

“Such people are lucky that this project will help them find lawyers when they need justice, and advocacy is the best way to get fair justice.” Mbonera said.

In a period of about five months, the Uhaki Bila Mipaka project has already helped 1049 people in legal matters, and it will last for four years, where it is expected to end in 2026.

Dr. Elvis Mbembe Binda, the president and a founding member of Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights, which helps communities and individuals in Africa’s Great Lakes Region live in peaceful coexistence said that this project comes to help the borders to tackle justice and legal problems.

“It is important because it is a project that is field-focused, we look ahead to support Rwandan citizens who have problems in Congo and Congolese who have problems in Rwanda.” Dr. Mbembe said.

Political situation

“This project will target the populations at the grassroots level, regarding the political situation, it’s true there is an interference with what we are doing, and the good thing is that when we discuss with the authorities on both sides whether in Rwanda or in Congo, we find that on both sides the project is very welcomed, because each country needs to see the populations on the other side of the border have help, and that is the most important and most appreciated part of this project.” Dr. Mbembe added.

The main stakeholders of this project include the Ministry of Justice (MINIJUST), justice sector actors including the judiciary, the prosecution, Rwanda Investigative Bureau (RIB), Rwanda National Police (RNP), NCHR, the directorate general of immigration and emigration, cross-border political and administrative authorities, members of civil society organizations and local government officials in Rubavu and Rusizi districts.