Tanzania : 97% of Burundian refugees deemed “not in need of protection”, according to the UNHCR

SOS Médias Burundi

Kigoma, October 20, 2025 — Last week was eventful in the Burundian refugee camps in Tanzania. More than 110,000 Burundian refugees still live in the country, most of them having fled the 2015 crisis triggered by another controversial term of the late President Pierre Nkurunziza. The UNHCR, the Burundian consulate, and Tanzanian authorities toured the camps to announce the findings of the pre-selection interviews conducted last May : according to their results, almost all of the refugees no longer need international protection.

On Friday, October 17, UNHCR Country Representative Barbara Bentum Williams Dotse, accompanied by Sudi Mwakibasi, Permanent Secretary for Refugees at the Tanzanian Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Burundian Consul in Kigoma, Jérémie Kekenwa, visited Nduta camp to officially present the results to refugees’ representatives and the local population.

“More than 97% of Burundian refugees have no valid reasons to maintain their exile status and must therefore return willingly or forcibly,” declared Ms. Williams Dotse following these interviews in the Nduta and Nyarugusu camps.

Officially presented as a tool to assess the willingness of certain individuals to maintain their international protection, these interviews have sparked concern, incomprehension, and accusations of coercion among the refugees.

Statements from the UNHCR and the authorities

Ms. Williams Dotse clarified that the current refugees are mostly motivated by economic reasons, and that the political or persecution motives cited in 2015 are no longer relevant. She acknowledged that the process had experienced irregularities, but assured that they did not compromise the results.

“The closure of schools, hospitals, churches, and NGOs in the camps is in line with this, and we are aware of it,” added the UNHCR chief.

Refugees’ reactions

The announcements were immediately denounced by the refugees :

“So you want to kill us before the deadline even arrives. This is a clear violation of the rights you are supposed to uphold!” shouted residents of the Nduta camp.

Sudi Mwakibasi, known for his blunt language, stated :

“Since you have been abandoned by the UNHCR, Tanzania will help you return to your country. We will accelerate repatriation and perhaps exceed 3,000 people per week.”

He even mentioned coercive measures :

“We can put crosses on the doors of those who must return. They can register voluntarily; otherwise, we will demolish their homes to help them make the decision.”

Burundian Consul Jérémie Kekenwa urged his compatriots to return to Burundi, promising them a warm welcome :

“Gitega awaits you with open arms. Those who do not own property will be able to benefit from fields in the cooperatives,” he declared.

Between indignation and mistrust

This advice was poorly received by the refugees, who denounced ongoing human rights violations :

“Stop lying!” There are hundreds of refugees who have returned to exile because your country has persecuted them. You continue to commit targeted assassinations and human rights violations. We will not fall into this trap,” they declared.

Despite the fear surrounding the March 31, 2026 deadline, several refugees remain hopeful that the UN and Tanzania will respect international conventions :

“We didn’t even know we would be spending 2025 in Nduta, even though the Tanzanian authorities had set a date for us last December. March 2026 worries us, but we hope these violations will one day end,” they confided.

They call on the international community to maintain the protection of Burundian refugees and to push Tanzania to comply with the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Protection of Refugees and Asylum Seekers.