Gitega : crackdown on Congolese refugees living in the city

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, September 5, 2026—Several Congolese refugees living in different neighborhoods of Gitega, the political capital of Burundi, were arrested early Saturday morning, September 5, during a police operation, according to testimonies gathered from members of the refugee community.

The operation targeted the Karera and Swahili neighborhoods, where Congolese refugees reside. According to testimonies, police officers checked residency documents and asked those they encountered to present the documents authorizing them to reside in an urban area. Several people were arrested following these checks.

At the heart of the concerns is a document that, according to the refugees interviewed, was issued in previous years by the National Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (ONPRA) to allow certain refugees from the camps to reside in urban areas.

However, some refugees claim that this document is no longer being issued, creating a situation they consider particularly difficult. They explain that they are being asked to present authorization that they can no longer obtain.

Families are leaving the camps to send their children to school.

These concerns come as, for several days now, some Congolese refugees have been leaving the camps to go to different provinces of Burundi, notably Gitega.

For many families, these moves are primarily motivated by the desire to send their children to school. Parents explain that learning conditions in some camps have deteriorated and that educational opportunities do not always meet their children’s needs.

The situation is particularly worrying for families with young children. Some parents feel it is difficult to leave their children alone in the camps while they search for schooling opportunities elsewhere.

“We came for our children’s education.”

Contacted by SOS Médias Burundi, a refugee living in a neighborhood that was not affected by the checks, who requested anonymity, said he learned of the arrest of several of his compatriots in the early hours of the morning.

“This morning, we understood that some of our brothers had been arrested simply for being here. Many of them came for their children. They are looking for places where their children can continue their studies in better conditions.”

According to this witness, the families involved are not trying to circumvent the rules, but rather to find solutions to the difficulties they face in the camps.

“We have children who need to go to school. Some are still very young and cannot be separated from their parents.” When educational conditions become difficult in the camps, parents naturally seek alternative solutions. It is in this context that some come to urban areas.

The refugee calls on the Burundian authorities to consider the family and educational situation of those affected before taking any action against them.

“We ask the Burundian government to look at our situation with compassion. We understand that there are rules regarding the presence of refugees in cities, but the education of children, their health, and the specific circumstances of each family must also be taken into account.”

Uncertainty about resettlement is a cause for concern

For some refugees interviewed, the issue of mobility is also linked to the changing possibilities for resettlement in third countries.

The witness believes that the uncertainty surrounding resettlement programs is pushing some families to seek other prospects for their future.

“For a long time, we lived with the hope of being resettled in another country. But today, this possibility has become much more uncertain.” We must therefore think about our future here and, above all, about the future of our children.”

He adds that education has now become an essential investment for some families.

“Today, we are trying to figure out how to invest in our children’s education. We want them to be able to continue their studies despite the difficulties we are facing. We hope that the authorities will understand that our presence in the city is often linked to basic needs and not to a desire to create problems.”

Fears of further operations

According to information gathered by SOS Médias Burundi, the police operation did not target all neighborhoods in Gitega where Congolese refugees live.

Some refugees claim to have been informed of the arrests by their relatives and now fear that further checks will be carried out in the coming days.

This situation is fueling anxiety among some families, particularly those who recently left the camps for reasons related to schooling or access to healthcare.

Refugees between camps and cities

Burundi hosts Congolese refugees who live primarily in camps and benefit from various humanitarian assistance programs, including food aid, protection, and support services.

However, some refugees leave the camps for various reasons : children’s education, access to healthcare, family reunification, the search for livelihoods, or other family needs.

Meanwhile, Burundi also hosts refugees living in urban areas, particularly in Bujumbura, the commercial capital, and Rumonge, a port city in the southwest of the country known for its fishing and trading activities on Lake Tanganyika, which has refugee status.

Their situation differs from that of people living in camps, especially regarding access to regular humanitarian assistance.

These urban refugees generally have to provide for their own daily needs, including housing, food, healthcare, and children’s education. For some, resettlement in a third country remains one of the main options considered.

SOS Médias Burundi has not yet received a response from the police or the National Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (ONPRA) regarding these arrests and the status of the documents allowing refugees to reside in urban areas.