Tackling social exclusion: Urban refugee men’s life strategies in Kigali – Rwanda

Refugee experience has been put in the lime light for a long time especially on women’s vulnerability in the refugee camps but it is also important that a focus be put on other groups of refugees who for example are differentiated by location, sex among other aspects and this paper does exactly that in contribution to refugee studies that have been made but specifically in relation to men’s experiences living in urban Kigali and how their status challenges hegemonic masculinity. This paper is about Congolese refugees living in Kigali specifically men on manhood ideals from what their own views are, their life stories and perceptions as respondents and key informants in this study. It brings out their experiences in their trajectories and what their strategies of survival in the place of abode are citing their challenges, strengths and alternatives that they have improvised to maintain and live up to expectations and aspirations of hegemonic masculinity in society. I argue that although urban refugees are looked at as being in better positions and having the ability to be self reliant compared to those camp based by individuals, civil society and international organizations especially due to their location and freedom of movement however it’s apparent that they face social exclusion in several aspects and some struggle to cope. From their own views they have been excluded on many accounts fuelled by UNHCR and the state from mainly citizenship rights causing an impact on the survival of refugees affecting men more as they aspire to achieve manhood ideals pertaining to hegemonic masculinity. It’s evident that refugee men have relied on mainly social networks to survive. I recommend a holistic approach to be taken in offering support to all refugees in the country by UNHCR and the government especially on the issue of citizenship firstly by providing ID cards to all refugees and ensuring that in collaboration with the DRC government voluntary integration or repatriation are discussed and head way made with caution to peace restoration in the country. Relevance to Development Studies Gender has been taken to mean a women’s issue in some instances especially in developing Africa but with the introduction of GAD in development studies, it is important that men’s issues be brought on board and not assumed like they are not as important. My focus on refugee men is in this direction and it is driven by the hypothesis that men have a vital role as far as protecting and providing for their families but also can be of paramount importance in front running development programmes. Therefore when able youth, refugee men are excluded from labor markets, citizenship rights among others their esteem first of all is hampered with thus posing a challenge to their manhood ideals and hegemonic masculinity then secondly a country loses out on their contribution in terms of production and their unproductiveness causes repercussions on themselves and the wide society.