Musenyi : the Musongati administration wants to restore order and strengthen transparency at the refugee site

SOS Médias Burundi

Musongati, October 23, 2025 — Claudine Niyoyitungira, administrator of Musongati district in Burunga province, southern Burundi, conducted a field visit on Wednesday to the Musenyi refugee site, now under her jurisdiction. This site formerly belonged to the former district of Giharo, which merged with Mpinga-Kayove and Musongati following the recent territorial redistribution.

Musenyi is home to more than 19,000 Congolese refugees, mainly from South Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

This visit comes at a tense time, a few days after a demonstration organized by a group of refugee women denouncing what they consider to be unfair humanitarian distribution.

“Troublemakers will be punished.”

Addressing community leaders and representatives of humanitarian organizations, Ms. Niyoyitungira delivered a strong message on security.

“Anyone involved in disturbances or violence within the camp will be severely punished, in accordance with the Burundian law. These individuals will be transferred to Rutana prison,” she warned.

Her message aims to restore calm to a site where, according to several internal sources, tensions have increased in recent days.

Private schools under surveillance

The administrator also mentioned the proliferation of private schools established by Congolese refugees within the site. Some are said to follow the Congolese education system and be affiliated with Congolese institutions based in Bujumbura, Burundi’s commercial capital, where UN agencies and the central administration are concentrated.

Ms. Niyoyitungira announced her intention to summon the founders of these schools to verify their compliance with the Burundian law.

“I want to understand who founded these schools and under what regulations they operate. It is unacceptable for educational institutions to operate outside the Burundian legal framework,” she declared.

Strengthened humanitarian coordination

On the sidelines of this visit, another meeting took place between the district administration, the site management, and humanitarian partners present on the ground. The objective : taking stock of interventions and improve coordination between various actors.

“We need to know exactly which organizations are working, on which projects, and for which targets. This will allow for greater fairness and transparency,” Ms. Niyoyitungira emphasized.

Refugee representative Dieudonné Sumbu welcomed this approach :

“Close collaboration with the district administration is essential to establish peace and ensure development in the site.”

Refugees call for greater listening

Under the condition of anonymity, a refugee community leader said,

“We welcome the arrival of the authorities. But it is crucial that our grievances not be ignored. We are asking for increased security at night, more awareness-raising regarding coexistence with local residents, and, above all, respect for our right to move freely within the district.”

In Burundi, refugee sites are managed by the National Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (ONPRA), under the supervision of the Ministry of the Interior. The district administration, for its part, coordinates local civil affairs.