Musenyi : Congolese refugees welcome the easing of movement restrictions

SOS Médias Burundi

Musenyi, February 2, 2026 – Congolese refugees living at the Musenyi site, located in the district of Musongati, in the province of Burunga, southeastern Burundi, have welcomed a new measure granting them greater freedom of movement. They can now move freely throughout the Giharo zone and the entire district of Musongati without needing an exit permit, provided they register their names beforehand with the site administration.

This decision marks a significant change for the refugees, who have long denounced the movement restrictions imposed around the site. Several refugees had been arrested in recent months for crossing the boundaries of the village surrounding the Musenyi site, even while traveling for daily activities and in search of livelihoods.

For many refugees, this measure represents a relief and a step forward in respecting their fundamental rights.

“We are grateful for this decision, which allows us to move around more freely. Before, many refugees were arrested simply for crossing the boundaries set around the site. We thank the authorities for this easing of restrictions, but we also hope that this freedom of movement will be extended to the entire province so that we can carry out our activities without fear,” said Ciza, a refugee at the Musenyi site.

According to her, these repeated arrests had created a climate of anxiety within the refugee community. Some hesitated to travel to neighboring towns to access markets, services, or economic opportunities, for fear of being apprehended.

This new measure is seen as a positive step towards better integrating refugees into their host communities. It could also help reduce tensions related to controls and movement restrictions, which have often been the subject of complaints from local residents.

It is worth noting that the Burundian law, as well as international principles on refugee protection, normally allows refugees to move freely within the district where their camp or site is located. However, in some camps in the country, these provisions are not always effectively enforced, with refugees sometimes being confined to a five-kilometer radius around the site without special permission to leave.

The Musenyi site, located in the district of Musongati, in Burunga province, in southeastern Burundi, hosts nearly 22,000 refugees.