Dzaleka (Malawi) : eight refugees arrested after the murder of a Burundian trader

SOS Médias Burundi

Dzaleka, December 23, 2025 – Malawian police have arrested eight refugees in connection with the investigation into the murder of a Burundian trader, which occurred near the Dzaleka camp, a site that is now extremely overcrowded and under pressure.

The murder and the arrests

The Burundian trader was violently attacked on Sunday night as he was returning from Gasungu, the village where he ran his shop. His body was found the next day less than a kilometer from the camp. Before succumbing to his injuries in the hospital, he stated that he recognized some of his attackers, who resided in the camp.

Eight refugees were detained for questioning, including four Congolese, three Burundians, and one Rwandan, residing in the Karonga, Kawale I, and Blantyre areas.

A worried community and a fragile situation

The families of those detained and the victim are demanding transparency and a thorough investigation. This incident occurs within a worrying security context, exacerbated by overcrowding, a lack of resources, and daily tensions in the Dzaleka camp. This overcrowding has led to a rise in insecurity : cases of murder, armed robbery, and attacks on shopkeepers have become commonplace in recent months.

Key figures for the camp

Designed to accommodate 10,000 to 12,000 people, the Dzaleka camp now houses more than 57,000 refugees, according to data from late 2024/early 2025. The main countries of origin are the DRC, Burundi, and Rwanda, but the camp also hosts refugees from Ethiopia, Somalia, and Mozambique.

Overcrowding leads to disastrous living conditions: lack of drinking water, sanitation, and food, exacerbated by UNHCR funding cuts and the continuous arrival of new refugees. Despite these difficulties, the refugees’ resilience remains remarkable.