Government may force foreign aid workers to quit Rwanda

HUNDREDS of aid workers from Ireland and other Western countries may have to leave Rwanda because of a government drive to reduce the number of expatriat staff in the country.

The two main Irish agencies Concern and Trocaire, are experiencing difficulties securing or renewing work visas for their staff. Where possible, the Rwandan government wants aid work carried out by local personnel.

Another Irish agency, Goal, has pulled out of Rwanda for the second time in six months. Goal returned during the refugee emergency in November, two months after had left the country.

Its staff have since withdrawn again, however, after the agency and the government failed to agree terms for staying in the country. Government sources say they wanted a minimum two year commitment from the agency.

The NGOs (non governmental organisations) in Rwanda reached agreement with the government to reduce their expatriate staff to three per organisation this year, but that was before the influx of more than one million refugees from eastern Zaire and Tanzania at the end of 1996.

Many agencies brought in extra staff to cope with the emergency. Now that the crisis has passed, agencies are switching their emphasis to rehabilitation and development.

On her visit to Rwanda last week the Minister of State for overseas co operation, Ms Joan Burton, repeatedly stressed Ireland's willingness to help with reconstruction in Rwanda. She raised the NGOs' concerns about staffing with government ministers.

Between them, Concern, Trocaire and Refugee Trust have about 40 expatriate staff. The Rwandan government has not yet indicated whether it will enforce the three expatriate rule this year, although rumours are circulating in Kigali that large numbers of agency staff will be expelled.

The government is annoyed that some agencies used the November crisis to bring in large teams of expatriates. Medecins Sans Frontieres, for example, flew in 143 people, although many of these were deployed in eastern Zaire.

Currently, there are more than 150 NGOs and over 20 UN and other international agencies in Rwanda. The profusion of organisations has on occasion led to confusion, duplication of work and competition for contracts and funds.

Most NGOs accept the need to employ a higher proportion of local staff, but believe that this process will take time. The return of refugees has greatly improved the availability of qualified Rwandan personnel, but agencies feel that returning refugees may not prove acceptable to the rest of the population because of possible links to the genocide.

Developing countries often complain that a large proportion of aid goes on expatriate salaries and contracts for Western firms.

Agencies say they bring in expertise only when it is not available locally. Most also insist on expatriate staff in senior positions, as the best way to ensure donations are properly spent.