Nduta (Tanzania) : more than two hundred Burundian refugees forced to return home

SOS Médias Burundi

Kigoma, November 29, 2025 — More than two hundred Burundian refugees from the Nduta camp in northwestern Tanzania are homeless and forced to return to their villages of origin. Their homes, destroyed by torrential rains last October, have not been rebuilt despite promises from the camp administration, which is currently refusing any rehabilitation project.

The refugees, who had hoped to see their homes restored, have had to take refuge in schools, sheds, and churches, while the camp, which shelters more than 58,000 people, is gradually deteriorating. According to the authorities, the site is no longer designated for reconstruction, and the residents must return home to build permanent houses.

The president of the Nduta camp, representing the Ministry of the Interior, explained :

“The camp is no longer suitable for reconstruction. It is gradually deteriorating and could collapse by next March. These refugees must therefore return to build permanent homes in their home villages.”

For the refugees and the Burundian community, this measure is perceived as coercive and unjust.

“This is a blatant violation of our fundamental right to survival. Today, they are denying us housing; tomorrow, they could deny us food. We should be protected until our last day,” a refugee declared.

A community leader added :

“Where we sleep, practically under the open sky, we are exposed to the cold and all kinds of hardships. We lack almost everything, and our situation is untenable.”

In the camp, the pressure for forced repatriation is intensifying. Any infraction, unauthorized departure, or absence from a meeting can result in the immediate demolition of one’s home and forced return registration.

The Nduta camp continues to host more than 58,000 Burundian refugees, facing famine and a lack of resources, while uncertainty and precariousness continue to weigh heavily on the population.