Mahama (Rwanda) : community works with a message

Last Thursday, all residents of the Mahama camp were invited to participate in community works organized within the camp. This initiative, overseen by the NGO Save the Children, was not limited to improving infrastructure but also served as a platform to disseminate important messages to refugees.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Refugees carried out several environmental and health activities, including planting trees at the edges of villages 13 and 17, along the Akagera River. Furthermore, the rehabilitation of runoff pipes was carried out in villages 1, 11, 12, and 13, as well as in other areas of Mahama I and II zones.

This strong mobilization of refugees was also explained by the anticipation of speeches by officials, who addressed the population gathered on the Mahama I field.

An uncertain future for resettlement

The UNHCR representative at the Mahama camp sought to clarify the situation regarding the resettlement of refugees to a third country, particularly the United States and Canada.

Refugees participate in a meeting organized by the camp administration and Rwandan authorities after the community service session

“Of a quota of 7,000 refugees resettled each year, approximately 5,000 are headed to the United States. However, for 2025, only 4,000 refugees were initially planned to be received in the United States, a reduction due to the Trump administration’s restrictions. The most worrying thing is that, for the country as a whole, we will only be able to process fewer than 1,000 resettlement applications in 2025. It is therefore best to forget this option,” he explained.

Faced with this reality, the UNHCR encourages refugees to turn to development and economic empowerment initiatives, with an emphasis on income-generating activities.

Rising crime, a major concern

At the same time, the police took advantage of this meeting to raise awareness among refugees about the need to maintain order and fight crime. According to the authorities, the increase in the number of refugees in Mahama, which currently hosts more than 76,000 people, is unfortunately accompanied by a rise in crime.

The Kabeza center, neighboring the camp, is now ranked among “the top three crime hotspots in the country.” The police station chief stated : “Refugees are involved in various crimes, ranging from rape to assault and battery, theft, banditry, murder, and road accidents.” He also reiterated that “all refugees are subject to the same laws as Rwandan citizens.”

Difficult living conditions : an aggravating factor

The president of the refugee committee, J-Bosco Kwibishatse, acknowledges the existence of these problems, but attributes them largely to the precarious living conditions in the camp. He denounces, in particular, the frequent reduction of food rations and the gradual closure of certain humanitarian NGOs, which seriously affects the refugees’ hygiene and health. Despite these difficulties, one notable step forward was welcomed by the refugees : the replacement of all combustible gas cylinders with a new supply. “We hope this will reduce the risk of accidents and fires, which have already claimed the lives of around ten people, including children,” emphasized a refugee representative.

The Mahama camp continues to host mainly Burundian and Congolese refugees, who face daily challenges while seeking to adapt to a constantly changing reality.

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Refugees from Mahama camp in eastern Rwanda participate in a community service session