Photo of the week- Burundi : forced deportations from Switzerland, tense returns, and accusations of persecution denounced by experts

The return to Burundi of several young people deported from Switzerland is raising concerns and questions among their families, in a context already marked by economic hardship and persistent social tensions. At the same time, human rights organizations and experts are denouncing the continued forced deportations to Burundi, which they consider risky, and are calling on Swiss authorities to suspend this practice. At least 17 people were reportedly deported between 2024 and 2026, according to NGO sources.

According to testimonies gathered, several young Burundians expelled from Switzerland in recent weeks have returned to their families in various neighborhoods of Bujumbura, Burundi’s commercial capital, where United Nations agencies and the country’s central administration are concentrated. These include Nyakabiga in the center of Bujumbura, Gasekebuye in the south of the city, and Gihosha in the north, as well as in some provinces. Most of them had left Burundi several months, or even years, ago, hoping to find a better life in Europe.

Many had taken the migration route through Serbia, which in recent years has become a frequent transit point for African migrants seeking to reach the European Union. Several of these young people explained that they left the country because of unemployment, growing poverty, and a lack of future prospects.

“Many left because they no longer saw a future here. Some had finished their studies without ever finding work.” “Others were surviving on odd jobs that no longer even provided enough to feed their families,” recounts a resident of Nyakabiga.

Today, their forced return is a difficult ordeal, both for the young people involved and for their loved ones. In many families, a child’s departure abroad represented a hope for financial support and improved living conditions.

Joseph H., from the Gasekebuye neighborhood, describes a situation that has become unbearable for many parents :

“These days, when your child finds a way to leave the country to build a life elsewhere, it’s almost a relief for us parents. Here, life is becoming increasingly difficult. Many young people have neither jobs nor a clear future,” he testifies.

The return of these young people also comes amid a tense political climate as the 2027 elections approach. Many residents say they fear an increase in repression and arbitrary arrests against certain segments of the population.

Pierre, a resident of Gihosha, believes the current context makes the reintegration of these young people even more difficult :

“These young people are returning at a sensitive time. With elections approaching, many people are living in fear. The political space is very closed, and young people fear being targeted for arbitrary arrest,” he explains.

Some of the deported young people say they have been experiencing significant psychological distress since their return. One of them, who requested anonymity for security reasons, recounts a migration journey marked by several setbacks.

According to him, he initially left Burundi for Kenya hoping to find work. After several months without success, he returned home before continuing his journey to Serbia and then Switzerland.

“When I arrived in Switzerland, I thought I could finally rebuild my life. But today, I’ve come back here with nothing. It’s very difficult emotionally,” he confides.

The young man says he fears not only the economic hardships but also the current security situation.

“It’s not easy to come back and resume this expensive life in Bujumbura, with all the economic difficulties. We also live in fear for our safety, especially with the presidential elections approaching and the repression we often experience during these periods,” he adds, his voice thick with emotion.

For now, no Burundian authority has officially commented on the conditions for the return and reintegration of migrants expelled from Switzerland.

Meanwhile, many families say they continue to live in a state of worry, silence, and uncertainty about their children’s future.

“We only ask God to protect us. Only He knows what tomorrow holds,” murmurs one of the expelled young men, his gaze lost in thought.

According to sources contacted by SOS Médias Burundi in Switzerland, at least 17 people, including an entire family, were reportedly deported and returned to Burundi on a special flight. Other rejected asylum seekers are said to be living in hiding, while some have reportedly reached other European Union countries.

Recently, demonstrations were organized in Switzerland by migrant and refugee rights organizations, denouncing the conditions of these returns to Burundi.

In a statement accompanying a press conference scheduled for May 27 via videoconference, several organizations and experts assert that the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) continues to carry out forced returns to Burundi despite repeated warnings about the risk of persecution.

According to these organizations, a special flight was organized on April 21, transporting a family of five as well as several other Burundian nationals. The cantons of Aargau, Solothurn, Vaud, and Zurich are reportedly affected. In total, 17 people were reportedly returned to Burundi between 2024 and 2026.

Organizations claim that some of those deported suffered harm upon their return, though details cannot be made public for security reasons.

Experts believe the risk of persecution in Burundi is real and documented, and are calling for a suspension of the returns. Several hundred people are still reportedly facing deportation or are in the asylum process.

The announced press conference is expected to bring together several specialists, including the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi, Fortuné Gaétan Zongo, as well as legal experts, lawyers, and representatives of migrant rights organizations.

The organizers are also calling on Swiss authorities to reconsider their policy of returning people to Burundi, in light of international reports indicating a persistent deterioration of the human rights situation in the country.

Our photo : protesters are demanding that Switzerland halt returns to Burundi. Photo credit : Laurent Guiraud