Gitega : hunted, detained, and sent back to camps : the ordeal of Congolese refugees

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, September 7, 2026 — Approximately one hundred Congolese refugees living in Gitega, the political capital of Burundi, were forced to leave the city on the evening of Saturday, September 5, and throughout the day on Sunday, September 6, after being stopped during a search operation conducted in certain neighborhoods.

According to several accounts gathered from those affected, the search operation took place on the morning of Saturday, September 5, in the Kishwahili and Karera neighborhoods. The refugees were asked to present documents authorizing them to reside in urban areas.

According to the authorities in charge of the search, several of those stopped did not have the required documents to justify their presence in the city. The refugees explained that the document that previously allowed them to obtain their residency permit in urban areas is no longer being issued, placing them in a particularly difficult situation.

Following this operation, several refugees were taken to the police station, where they remained for several hours before the intervention of representatives from the National Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (ONPRA).

The ONPRA representatives intervened to organize their return to their original camps.

This eviction comes as several refugees had recently left the camps to settle in Gitega.

For many of them, this move was primarily driven by one concern : ensuring better schooling for their children.

Some families had already found housing, paid rent, and provided deposits or guarantees to landlords. They had also incurred expenses to furnish their homes and prepare their children for the start of the school year, scheduled for Monday, September 14, 2026.

The hasty return to the camps represents a significant financial loss for these families and profound uncertainty regarding their children’s continued education.

The situation is particularly worrying for children who were already attending schools in Gitega.

Some students had already taken necessary steps for the start of the school year, while their parents had incurred expenses for uniforms, school supplies, housing costs, and other necessities related to settling in.

Even more concerning, some students were forced to return to the camps while their parents were also deported, abruptly interrupting their schooling in Gitega.

“We lost everything in a few hours,” testifies an expelled refugee.

A Congolese refugee, who requested anonymity, recounts having experienced a particularly harrowing day. He was stopped and checked on Saturday morning before spending several hours in detention, awaiting his fate.

“We came to Gitega primarily for our children’s future.” “We had rented houses, bought some things, and prepared their school supplies because school was supposed to start on Monday. We never imagined that in just a few hours we would have to abandon everything,” he says.

According to him, the families are now facing significant material and financial losses.

“We had paid the rent, given guarantees to the landlords, and spent a lot of money to settle in. Some had already prepared their children for school. Now, we are being asked to return to the camp without being given enough time to recover what we have invested,” he continues.

The refugee also says he fears the consequences of this situation on the children.

“What hurts us the most is the children. They were ready for the start of the school year. Some had their uniforms, notebooks, and everything they needed to begin classes. Now, they are forced to return to the camp. We are afraid they will drop out of school or fall far behind,” he laments.

He calls on the authorities and organizations responsible for refugee protection to take into account the situation of families and, above all, the best interests of children.

The expulsion of Congolese refugees from Gitega comes in a context where the presence of refugees in urban areas remains sensitive.

Those expelled are asking, in particular, to understand the new rules applicable to their stay in the city and want the authorities to specify the documents now required to reside there legally.

At the time of publication, the authorities responsible for refugee management and protection had not yet publicly commented on this operation or on the precise reasons that led to the return of these refugees to their camps.