Burundi-Tanzania : forced refugee repatriation under pressure, $82 million still missing

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, March 5, 2026 — Burundi has presented an ambitious plan to facilitate the return and reintegration of refugees, primarily from Tanzania. Since the 2015 crisis, more than 300,000 refugees have already returned home. The goal is now to repatriate an additional 100,000 people by mid-2026, with support aimed at sustainable reintegration.

On Monday, March 2, 2026, at a meeting with international partners, the return plan was presented. Since the beginning of the year, 37,000 refugees have already returned, representing more than 8,000 returns per week, far exceeding initial projections.

Brigitte Mukanga-Eno, the UNHCR representative in Burundi, welcomed these returns but stressed that repatriation alone is not enough. “Return must be accompanied by robust reintegration. Without support in the areas of return, some may be forced to leave again,” she warned.

To support this program, $82 million is needed to facilitate the repatriation and reintegration of the 100,000 refugees still in camps in Tanzania, but this funding has not yet been secured. UN agencies reaffirmed their support for the Burundian government to ensure successful reintegration as soon as the funds become available.

Nestor Bimenyimana, Director General of Repatriation, announced that the Nduta and Nyarugusu camps will close at the end of March and the end of June 2026, respectively. More than 143,000 refugees are expected to return home before these dates. The next step will be a tripartite meeting in Nyanza, Tanzania, to finalize the arrangements for the return of the remaining 100,000 refugees.

On the ground, some refugees are denouncing forced repatriation, citing the destruction of homes, schools, health centers, and other infrastructure, and are crying out about the violation of their rights while the UNHCR stands by helplessly. According to testimonies gathered by SOS Médias Burundi, some refugees have already begun fleeing to other countries in the sub-region and Southern Africa.

The Burundian government, for its part, believes that this repatriation and reintegration program will contribute to strengthening the country’s stability and development, while also consolidating social cohesion in the areas of return.

Most of the occupants of the Nduta and Nyarugusu camps had fled the violence linked to the 2015 political crisis, triggered by the controversial third term of the late President Pierre Nkurunziza.