B., national of the Democratic Reoublic of Congo, was rejected international protection by OFPRA and contested the decision, by arguing that she is member of the Hema ethnic group and had been victim of ethnic group clashes in her home region, Ituri. Her father was murdered by the Lendu ethnic group in February 2018 and her husband disappeared during volent attacks on her village by armed group of Lendu militiamen. In April 2019 she fled with her five children. She fears persecution upon return due to her ethnic origins and she could not benefit of state actors’ protection.  

The CNDA admitted her appeal and granted her refugee status after having assessed that all her statements were credible and well documented by medical certificates and corroborated with country of origin information from relevant sources.

The CNDA stated also that the vulnerable situation of the applicant as single mother, having to take care alone of 5 children would make it difficult for her and her minor children to settle in a safe environment in the Democratic Republic of Congo.