“Nepali Passport Renewal Has Been Stalled for Two Years”

London – Due to the ongoing conflict between the Congolese government and the M23 rebel group, around 500 Nepali citizens in Congo are at risk.

According to Bishnuprasad Giri, the President of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Congo, there are over 1,000 Nepali nationals in Congo, with those living near the Rwanda and Burundi border regions facing the greatest danger.

The M23 rebel group has been wreaking havoc in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and has already taken control of the two largest cities in the area. As the rebels’ influence grows, thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes.

“The rebels are capturing cities here, and the Nepalis are scattered across different regions. Many Nepalis have been unable to renew or create new passports, leaving them stranded and unable to leave Congo,” Giri told Citizen News.

Congo’s Nepali community is under the jurisdiction of the Nepalese Embassy in South Africa. Giri explained that due to changes in the Nepalese government and the lack of a new ambassador, embassy staff have had limited stability, which has impacted passport services. Nepalis in Congo have requested mobile passport renewal services.

“The Nepali community here is in a serious crisis. Rebel activities are escalating rapidly, making foreign nationals, especially Nepalis, increasingly vulnerable,” Giri said.

While embassies of other countries, including India, have urged their citizens to leave Congo, no substantial steps have been taken for the Nepali community, leaving their return to Nepal uncertain.

Giri mentioned that Nepali citizens in Congo have faced severe challenges with passport renewals and visa issues, with some being unable to renew their passports for over two years.

The NRNA Congo has raised concerns with the Nepali Embassy in South Africa, but so far, no significant action has been taken, Giri added.

“We have repeatedly communicated and sent letters, but we have not received a response from the embassy, leaving Nepalis in even greater distress. Some Nepalis are without passports or the necessary documentation for legal residency,” Giri expressed.

The Non-Resident Nepali Association in Congo has put forward a three-point suggestion to the government and the association for the rescue of Nepalis. In a letter to NRNA President Dr. Badri KC, they have requested his intervention for resolving the Congo crisis.

NRNA Vice President Dr. Hem Raj Sharma stated that the association is ready to offer necessary support for the security of Nepalis in Congo. He urged the Nepali community there to collaborate with the Nepal government in finding a solution.

Suggestions have been made for the immediate resolution of passport renewals and visa issues, searching for alternative measures to ensure the safety of Nepali citizens in Congo, and coordinating efforts for their possible rescue. Additionally, they recommended collaborating with the Nepal government, NRNA, and international organizations to find solutions to the problems faced by Nepali citizens in Congo.

In related news, the newly appointed Ambassador to South Africa, Prof. Kapilman Shrestha, arrived in Pretoria last week to take charge of his duties. The embassy issued a statement last Thursday, noting that Ambassador Shrestha has held an introductory meeting with diplomatic and local staff at the embassy. He has now formally assumed his role at the embassy.