Tanzania : rise in crime around Nduta camp, Burundian refugees worried

SOS Médias Burundi

Nduta, July 14, 2025 – A series of violent attacks in recent days around the Nduta refugee camp in northwest Tanzania is causing concern among Burundian refugees. Three serious incidents, involving injuries and armed robberies, were reported in less than 48 hours, rekindling calls for urgent security measures in this already vulnerable area.

The first incident occurred Saturday night, inside the camp itself, in Zone III, Village 2, at house number 45. Unidentified men violently attacked a refugee woman who runs a small business selling drinks and money transfers.

“The perpetrators seriously injured her arms and beat her severely. They then took an as-yet-unknown amount of money, leaving her dying,” said her neighbors, who immediately rushed her to the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) hospital. She was admitted there for intensive care.

The following day, Sunday, a second incident was reported in Malorerwa, a Tanzanian village located about two kilometers from the camp. Two vehicles, including a minibus, were ambushed by unidentified criminals.

“They first blocked the road, robbed all the passengers of their belongings, then fired into the air and threw stones at the vehicles,” witnesses said.

“At least five people, including several refugees, were injured and treated at the Nduta camp hospital,” they added.

Despite the seriousness of the incident, refugees claim that the police did not react in time, allowing the attackers to escape. This situation fuels a growing sense of abandonment and insecurity in the camp.

“It’s become commonplace. The police always arrive after the incident,” laments a refugee who requested anonymity.

“We live in fear. We call on the Tanzanian authorities and law enforcement to redouble their efforts to secure the camp and its surroundings.”

Nduta camp, located in the Kigoma region, currently hosts more than 58,000 Burundian refugees fleeing the socio-political crises in their home country. Already facing precarious living conditions, these incidents exacerbate their vulnerability.

To date, the Tanzanian authorities have not issued an official statement regarding these crimes. The refugees, for their part, hope for concrete action to prevent further violence and guarantee their safety in this camp, which is supposed to be a place of protection.