CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC-SUDAN: Thousands of Sudanese to return home by April

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

BANGUI, 2 Feb 2006 (IRIN) - Some 5,000 Sudanese refugees living in the Central African Republic (CAR) could return home by April following the signing of a tripartite agreement between the two governments and the Office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the agency said.

"The return of refugees is a powerful symbol of national reconciliation, and UNHCR is pleased to contribute to this process by helping Sudanese refugees return home to take part in the reconstruction of their country with all their energy and ingenuity," Bruno Geddo, UNHCR representative in Bangui, the capital of CAR, said on Wednesday.

CAR is currently hosting about 16,000 Sudanese refugees. UNHCR said it expected to return the 5,000 to Sudan by April and the rest by the end of the year.

During the signing ceremony, Sudanese deputy interior minister Aleu Ayieny Aleu appealed to the refugees to return home to help in the reconstruction of southern Sudan.

"I can assure you that there is peace in Sudan," he added. "Time has come to go back home."

"Sudanese refugees in the eastern end of the country were deeply involved in agricultural and commercial activities that really help in the region," said Michel Salle, CAR's interior minister.

Most Sudanese arrived in CAR around 1990, and settled in the area of Mboki, where UNHCR estimates that some 12,000 live today.

The accord came days after similar tripartite agreements were signed between the governments of Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and UNHCR that could see some 20,000 refugees repatriated.

[ENDS]