The Great Lakes region has been the site of more than a decade of unrest. The outflow of more than 2 million Rwandans in the wake of the 1994 genocide marked an exodus of unprecedented size and swiftness. The failure of the international community to respond effectively either to the genocide or the mix of genuine refugees, genocidaires and armed militias which poured into the Democratic Republic of Congo (then Zaire) set in motion a series of events which has allowed a devastating war which involved most of the region and claimed the lives of more than 3 million people.

Elsewhere in the region, a decades long conflict in northern Uganda. As a whole, the region continues to host more than a million refugees and nearly four million internally displaced persons.

But there are signs of hope, peace is taking a tenuous hold in Burundi and democratic elections were held in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2006. On the international plane, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region which is laying the framework for peace, stability and greater regional integration, having adopted a Pact on Security, Stability and Development in December 2006.

Publications of the International Refugee Rights Initiative related to the Great Lakes region:

"ICC Decides to Release Lubanga; Prosecution Appeals," Refugee Rights News, Volume 4, Issue 5, July 2008

"Chui Arrest a Milestone in the Fight Against Impunity in DRC," Refugee Rights News, Volume 4, Issue 4, June 2008 (updated July 2008).

"Jean-Pierre Bemba in ICC Custody," Refugee Rights News, Volume 4, Issue 4, June 2008 (updated July 2008).

"Calling for an End to the Violence against Women through Film," Refugee Rights News Volume 4, Issue 4, June 2008.

"Great Lakes Pact Enters Into Force," Refugee Rights News, Volume 4, Issue 3, May 2008.

"Kampala Conference on R2P in East and the Horn of Africa," Refugee Rights News, Volume 4, Issue 3, May 2008.

"Seeking Durable Solutions for Burundian Refugees in Tanzania," Refugee Rights News, Volume 4, Issue 3, May 2008.

"Juba Agreements on Accountability and Reconciliation Raise,"Refugee Rights News, Volume 4, Issue 3, May 2008.

"Arrest of Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui Marks a Milestone in the Fight against Impunity in the Congo," Refugee Rights News, Volume 4, Issue 2, April 2008.

"What is in a Name?  A Reflection on the Terminology of Post-Election Violence in Kenya," Refugee Rights News, Volume 4, Issue 2, April 2008.

"Repatriating the Kibati Group: Some Return, but Solutions Remain Elusive" Refugee Rights News, Volume 4, Issue 1, January 2008.

"Thousands of Kenyans Displaced as Election Outrage Unearths Festering Ethnic Tensions" Refugee Rights News, Volume 4, Issue 1, January 2008.

Enhancing Protection of Displaced Populations: Translating the Great Lakes Peace Pact into Action, April 2007.

"Great Lakes Pact a welcome step towards better protection of the displaced; implementation must be a priority," Press Release, December 14, 2006.

"Perspectives on Refoulement in Africa," Presentation to the Canadian Council for Refugees in Toronto, June 2006.

IRRI and the SSRC, Citizenship and Forced Migration in the Great Lakes Region: Exploring the linkages through multi-disciplinary research

"Refugees or Illegal Immigrants? Rwandan Asylum Seekers in Burundi," Refugee Rights News, Volume 3, Issue 1, February 2006.

"When Going Home is a Tough Choice," Refugee Rights News, Volume 3, Issue 1, February 2006.

"Annual Refugee Course in Tanzania Trains Advocates," Refugee Rights News, Volume 2, Issue 4, November 2005.

"Rwanda, Burundi Refugee Deportation Causes Uproar," Refugee Rights News, Volume 2, Issue 2, July 2005.

"Kenya, Uganda Act Tough on Refugees," Refugee Rights News, Volume 2, Issue 2, July 2005.

"Eleven Years on Rwandans Continue to Flee," Refugee Rights News, Volume 2, Issue 1, May 2005.

"No Forcible Return of Refugees to Rwanda," March 10, 2005.

"Safe, Sustainable Return for Rwandese Refugees in the Great Lakes: Ten principles," March 10, 2005.

"International Conference on the Great Lakes: New Hope for Refugees," Refugee Rights News, Volume 1, Issue 2, December 2004.

"Protect Refugees and Build Peace: Great Lakes NGOs Shout Loud," Refugee Rights News, Volume 1, Issue 1, October 2004.

"Violence and Political Instability in the DRC: Putting the Breaks on Refugee Repatriation," Volume 1, Issue 1, October 2004.