Burundi : an NGO raises concerns about Burundians in Zambia amid a new wave of arrests

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, February 17, 2026 – In recent years, faced with endemic unemployment, many Burundian civil servants and young graduates from general studies or universities have turned to emigration in search of opportunities. Within the sub-region, Burundians primarily go to Kenya, Uganda, or Southern African countries such as South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia.

In Zambia, the climate is perceived by the majority of Burundians as one of the least homophobic in the region. However, raids systematically targeting Rwandans and Burundians have recently been organized. Zambian citizens accuse these migrants of massively occupying income-generating sectors, thus fueling local tensions.

The National Observatory for the Fight Against Transnational Crime (ONLCT) raises the alarm

The ONLCT is expressing its concern following a surge in arrests of Burundians residing illegally in the country. In a press release dated February 16, the organization raised the alarm about a recent Zambian police operation, conducted on February 15, 2026, which targeted Burundian migrants, including in places of worship. Several people were arrested, transferred to various detention centers, before being released or repatriated.

According to the ONLCT, this operation is not an isolated incident : a similar raid on January 26, 2026, led to the arrest of 165 foreigners, including 106 Burundians. Prime Mbarubukeye, the association’s legal representative, explains that these arrests are often motivated by jealousy of Burundians, who are known for their diligence and professional success. “Our sources on the ground indicate that this situation stems from a certain hostility towards the success of Burundians,” he added.

The Ambassador’s efforts and the call for diplomacy

On February 10, Evelyne Butoyi, Burundi’s ambassador to Zambia, Angola, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, announced on her X account (formerly Twitter) that since February 7, at least 270 Burundians had been released and returned to their country. After visiting one of the prisons and meeting with Zambian migration officials, she highlighted a lack of information regarding required documents and procedures for settling in a foreign country, urging Burundians to gather information before emigrating.

The ONLCT welcomes the ambassador’s initiatives but believes they must be reinforced by stronger diplomatic action from the Burundian authorities to guarantee the safety of migrants and facilitate their repatriation under the best possible conditions. The organization also calls on the Burundian president, recently elected to the presidency of the African Union, to defend the rights of Burundians in irregular situations and promote lasting diplomatic solutions.

Preventing Irregular Departure and Unemployment

In its press release, the ONLCT reiterates the Burundian president’s commitments to combating youth unemployment in Africa. The organization advocates for the creation of new recruitment agencies, modeled on those already in place for women and girls to travel to Saudi Arabia, to offer young Burundian men legal work opportunities abroad. According to the ONLCT, these measures could reduce irregular departures and help alleviate unemployment in Burundi.

Faced with these repeated raids and the risks to migrants, the protection of Burundians in Zambia has now become a major diplomatic and humanitarian issue.