A Burundian-Tanzanian delegation visited two Burundian refugee camps in Nduta and Nyarugusu this week. The message was unique : return before December 2024. However, most of those concerned do not want to take advantage of this so-called grace period, which they consider bitter. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The Burundian delegation included Célestin Nimbona, assistant to the Minister of the Interior, the consul of Kigoma Jérémie Kekenwa and Kabura Prudence, Director of the Reintegration of Returnees and Displaced Persons. The delegation also included returnees such as the former head of zone 13 and the former representative of all refugees in the Nduta camp.

Tanzanian officials who accompanied them included Daniel Siro, permanent secretary at the Tanzanian Ministry of the Interior and famous Sudi Mwakibasi, director general in charge of refugees.

They visited Nyarugusu and Nduta camps on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week respectively.

Burundi’s special envoys indicated that the political crisis that these refugees fled is no longer relevant.

“The crisis is now told as a story of the past. The country is rather on the way to development. No one is distracted by these lying political speeches that are said and that come from enemies of the country,” said the assistant to the Burundian Minister of the Interior.

These statements are supported by testimonies from returnees from Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya.

“I was repatriated voluntarily, and I live well in my native country. I go about my activities without any worries and I participate in the development of the country because I am admitted to several cooperatives. You can also see that I have changed, I have regained weight,” testified the former occupant and community leader of the Nduta camp.

The displacement occurred while the flow of « voluntary » repatriation has significantly decreased in intensity. The Burundian delegation finds a reason for this.

« There are people here who are campaigning for non-repatriation. These people constitute a danger to you, and indeed to the country. We know them and we can even identify them. We recommend that the Tanzanian government seek them out and punish them because they only disturb public order, » said Célestin Nimbona.

Tanzania insists on the deadline of December 2024.

« After this period of grace and promotion, God alone knows what will happen. We will be able to conduct interviews to find out the real reasons of those who have not chosen the return path and later we will be able to proceed with the cessation of the refugee status. So, the ball is in your court,” masterfully indicated Sudi Mwakibasi, Director General in charge of refugees, known for his hostile remarks to Burundian refugees settled on the Tanzanian soil.

Loss of manpower…

According to figures revealed by the Tanzanian Ministry of the Interior, 25% of Burundian refugees are made up of school-age children.

“So, return to your country as soon as possible to give them the chance to start primary and secondary school next September while at home. When you are home, it will also be an opportunity to combat the food insecurity that haunts you,” seemed to sympathize the permanent secretary at the Tanzanian Ministry of the Interior Daniel Siro.

For him, 35% of refugees are productive young adults.
“See this manpower that is being lost for nothing? The country could take advantage of you to develop further,” he said.

Sudi Mwakibasi, known for his harsh statements against refugees, indicated that the camp will be « closed soon ».

« At the moment Nduta has about 58,000 refugees. So with less than 50 thousand, it will no longer be at the camp stage. Take advantage of this opportunity offered to you before the worst happens, » he threatened again.

For refugees, it is the forced repatriation campaign that continues.

« Let those who want to return take the return route. And we are delighted that the UNHCR has promised that those who do not feel safe will continue to be taken care of. But nothing is guaranteed with this powerless UN agency », reacted one of the community leaders at the Nyarugusu camp in Tanzania.

An Association attacks the UNHCR

« Refugees in camps in Tanzania live like prisoners : they do not have the right to income-generating activities, they do not go out, all shops and fields of crops have been destroyed. At the slightest fault, the punishment is to be taken to the border of Burundi. In general, Burundian refugees in Tanzania are treated like prisoners. All this is with a view to forcing them to return, which is difficult to resist », accuses Léopold Sharangabo, representative of ABDH/VICAR, an organization that campaigns for rights of refugees.

He calls on the international community to consider the 1951 Geneva Convention which enshrines the protection of refugees.

Currently, Tanzania is home to more than 110,000 Burundian refugees.