Tanzania: 6 Tanzanians received 15 years in prison over taking part in lynching two Burundi refugees

Two Burundians living in the Nduta camp were killed last week over allegation of collaborating with a group of refugees in rapping Tanzanian women who go to the fields and look for firewood near the Nduta camp. The case went to trial on Friday. INFO SOS Media Burundi

The verdict made by the Kibondo court in the Kigoma region (north-west of the country) on Friday morning, is one of the few trials against Tanzanian citizens in cases of murder of refugees. The convicts are part of a group of 10 men who were arrested by the Tanzanian police just after the incident, on February 15. There are detained in Kibondo.

Among other things, they were found guilty of “murder, uprising and disturbing security”.

Four detainees were cleared by the court. They were able to convince the judges as to their non-participation in the lynching which led to the death of the two Burundian refugees.

In the meantime, the police are increasing awareness sessions on good cohabitation between refugees and the host community. She also says she is looking for five other Tanzanian citizens who allegedly played a role in the lynching that led to the death of the two Burundians.

In Nduta, the host community and the refugees continue to provoke each other. At least 83 Burundian refugees are detained there. They are prosecuted for acts of “murder, disruption of security, unauthorized exit from the camp and theft”.

According to the Tanzanian police, between 12 and 16 refugees are killed every year in the region.