Burunga : concern over youth dropouts in favor of labor migration

SOS Médias Burundi,

Burunga, March 20, 2026— In Burunga province, southern Burundi, a worrying phenomenon is growing : more and more young people are dropping out of school to try their luck abroad, particularly in Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, and Dubai. This situation is causing concern among parents and educators.

Families face difficult choices

In Nyavyamo village, in the Muzenga zone of ​​Bururi district, Consolate N., a mother, speaks with concern. Her son recently decided to interrupt his studies to join friends in Dubai in search of work. Despite her initial reluctance, she eventually gave in, even going so far as to sell cows to finance her child’s trip.

The parents’ worrying testimony

Today, she fears a snowball effect : her eldest son, currently at university, is also considering dropping out of his studies to go abroad.

“I fear for the future of our country. If this trend continues, we risk having a poorly educated generation. What will become of these young people if these opportunities abroad disappear?” she asks.

Consolate calls on the authorities to take strict measures, particularly by ensuring that young people at least complete their studies before leaving the country.

Another testimony gathered in the same area echoes this sentiment. Donate M., mother of two boys who went to Zambia, acknowledges the risks but also mentions the economic realities that push families to make these choices.

“We know it’s not without danger.” Sometimes they are even imprisoned. But we have no other option. Poverty is growing here, and even after their studies, our children can’t find jobs,” she explains.

Between hope for a better life elsewhere and local disillusionment

Between a lack of local opportunities and the hope for a better life elsewhere, many young people seem to be losing faith in the education system and the national job market. This situation, according to several parents, calls for an urgent response from the government.

Authorities warn of the negative consequences of migration

This phenomenon comes at a time when Burundian authorities are also raising concerns about certain negative consequences linked to labor migration. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Édouard Bizimana, several problematic cases have been recorded among Burundians who have gone to work abroad, which complicates consular procedures and tarnishes the country’s image.

Figures that illustrate the scale of the phenomenon

The minister indicated that more than 21,600 Burundians have already been sent abroad by accredited agencies as part of labor migration programs. The majority of them are in Saudi Arabia, followed by other destinations such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, as well as Serbia and Albania.

Problematic cases abroad

The minister also mentioned more than 140 Burundian passports abandoned in Europe, particularly in Serbia, approximately 240 nationals involved in document forgery cases in South Korea, and around 4,000 Burundians detained in Tanzania for violating local laws.

A call for stronger public policies

Faced with this increasing migration, parents are calling on the government to take urgent action to reverse the trend. They advocate for policies that promote access to employment, improve living conditions, and value education as a driver of sustainable development.

The future of an entire generation thus remains suspended between the hope of opportunities elsewhere and local uncertainties.