Refugees at the Mahama camp in Rwanda protested on July 31, 2026, after discovering that transaction fees for money transfers were directly deducted from the humanitarian aid they received. The protest occurred at Mahama, 31 juillet 2026. Previously, humanitarian organizations covered these fees, but since last month, the deductions have come directly from beneficiaries' allotments. This change means that transaction fees for money transfers are no longer covered by humanitarian organizations but are directly deducted from the sums paid to beneficiaries. This change reduces the actual aid reaching the refugees. Rwanda currently hosts over 138,000 refugees, primarily from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.
Aid Mechanism Change Explained
Since the introduction of complementary in-cash food assistance, the fees associated with these transfers were previously covered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or its partner, the World Food Programme (WFP). Equity Bank, which handles the mobile money transfers for the aid, confirmed the implementation of a new procedure. Equity Bank, responsible for mobile transfers, confirmed the new procedure, explaining the shift in how these charges are handled. Agents for Equity Bank stated that the transfer fees, which had been supported by WFP and UNHCR, are now necessarily withdrawn directly from the sums received by the beneficiaries. This change has been in effect since last month, with fees directly deducted from the aid received by individuals and households. The impact of this change is considered less significant by some, as it reportedly affects only the transfer fees and not the entire household ration provided to refugees.
Refugee Voices and Financial Strain
Refugees, primarily Burundian and Congolese, in the Mahama camp are denouncing a new measure which they assert reduces the actual amount of their monthly monetary assistance. Refugees in the Mahama camp, predominantly Burundian and Congolese, denounce this new measure that they claim reduces the real amount of monthly monetary assistance they receive. The change impacts the financial support provided to different categories of refugees. Vulnerable refugees currently receive approximately 6,800 Rwandan francs per month per individual. This amount is intended to cover essential needs, but the deduction of transfer fees directly from this sum means the net amount received is less than the allocated aid.
For refugees classified as less vulnerable, the financial assistance provided is half of the amount given to vulnerable individuals. These recipients also face the same deduction of transfer fees from their allocated funds, further reducing the effective aid they receive. A third category of refugees, those considered to have existing income sources, receives no financial assistance from humanitarian organizations. This group is entirely reliant on their own means, and thus not directly affected by the transfer fee deductions. The shift in fee coverage has prompted concerns among beneficiaries regarding the transparency and adequacy of the aid distribution system.
Humanitarian Organization's Rationale
The fees generally range between 500 and 1,000 Rwandan francs, varying depending on the size of the household. These fees generally range between 500 and 1,000 Rwandan francs, depending on household size, representing a notable reduction for recipients. The World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed a change in the aid distribution mechanism, stating that the decision originated from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) due to financial constraints. A WFP official explained the rationale behind the change, noting that UNHCR sought to avoid a direct reduction in food rations. A WFP official stated that UNHCR did not want to directly reduce the food ration, aiming to mitigate the impact on overall household provisions. "UNHCR did not want to directly reduce the food ration, as this would have affected all members of a household," the official stated. "For now, it is only about transfer fees, so the impact is considered less significant." The impact is considered less significant as it only affects transfer fees, not the entire household ration, according to humanitarian organizations.