| dc.description.abstract | This study was about the militarization of Hutu refugee camps and its impact on the Kivu provinces. The study aimed to test two hypotheses namely, Hutu refugee camps in Kivu provinces were militarized and that the militarization of Hutu refugee camps has impacted on the Kivu provinces. Based on primary and secondary sources, the study argues that the entry of over 1 million refugees into Kivu in 1994 had been preceded by earlier migrations.
The gradual emigration of the Hutu and Tutsi dates back to the 15th century. However, their continued emigration led to the emergence of resentment and suspicion from the indigenous communities.
After the unregulated entry and random settlement in Kivu, various factors and circumstances led to the militarization of the refugee camps.
The circumstances varied from the entry and settlement of armed ex- F ARllnterahamwe forces into the refugee camps, the involvement of the host and other foreign countries in the militarization process to the ex-F. ARllnterahamwe exploitation of humanitarian assistance to facilitate the militarization. The camps military activities among other factors led to the destruction and closure of the camps.
The forced closure grew into a rebellion which swept DRC's president Mobutu from power. Change of royalties after Mobutu' s ouster led to the emergence of a militarized Hutu refugee group in the Kivus.
The study further argues that the militarization has impacted on the Kivu provinces. It stalled the repatriation of refugees from the camps, displaced people and led to deaths of people.
The militarization has also stimulated the proliferation of militia groups who engage in sexual abuses and recruitment of children. The militarization ignited cross-border attacks which gave way to regional wars. Today, the militarized Hutu refugee group operates in the Kivus as 'a state within a state,' a cause for further chaos and turmoil in Kivu, DRC and the region at large. | en_US |
