SOS Médias Burundi

About ten Burundian refugees have been arrested in less than two weeks at the Nduta camp. No motive has been given. The refugees are worried and are sounding the alarm.

Nduta, April 9, 2025 – The Nduta refugee camp in Tanzania is currently experiencing a wave of arrests causing serious concern among the population. According to information gathered from community leaders, at least eleven refugees, including three women and several young men, have been arrested in two weeks, without any explanation being provided. These arrests took place in several areas of the camp, including zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, and 17.

The incidents took place mainly on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of last week, as well as Tuesday of this week. As illustration, Nestor Manirakiza, from zone 5, and Melchior, from zone 12, are among the arrested. Others including Ismael and Diomède, are from zones 8 and 17. However, local authorities struggle to provide an exact number, amidst the daily increasing number in the arrests.

Arrests based on unclear motives

Refugees are concerned by the lack of any detail on these arrests while a big number of them took place during everyday events such as the food distribution in April. Another refugee was arrested at his home in a village where people requiring special protection live. According to testimonies collected, these arrests are often carried out by police officers who arrive in pickup trucks, armed with lists of names, and accompanied by individuals who remain anonymous.

« We fear the worst. Some are being held in Kibondo prison, but for others, we don’t even know where they are, » refugees say. These arrests are perceived as enforced disappearances, and several families have no news of their loved ones.

Repeated abuses against burundian Refugees

Abuses against Burundian refugees in Tanzania are unfortunately far from an isolated phenomenon. For several years, refugees have faced harsh living conditions and systematic human rights violations. Reports from NGOs and international organizations document arbitrary arrests, prolonged pretrial detention, and physical and psychological violence inflicted by security agents and Tanzanian authorities.

Tanzanian authorities, in collaboration with local security forces, are often accused of intimidating and harassing Burundian refugees. These actions are often justified on grounds of « national security, » but are perceived as flagrant violations of refugees’ fundamental rights.

Furthermore, refugees regularly face physical abuse, extortion, and threats of violence. Testimonies collected at Nduta camp reveal that some refugees have been beaten and detained without justifiable reason, simply because of their ethnic origin or their alleged political ties to the Burundian armed opposition.

Speculation about the reasons for the arrests

The reasons for these arrests remain unclear, but some refugees have put forward several theories. Possible explanations include an investigation into an armed robbery that allegedly took place in the camp in late March, cases related to the exchange of counterfeit banknotes, or even political motives. These theories fuel growing fear within the community, especially as the security situation appears to be rapidly deteriorating.

An employee of a humanitarian NGO operating in the camp shared his concern: « I no longer feel safe here. I have changed my habits and daily routines; I no longer answer unknown calls and I am constantly on my guard. » Another refugee added: « The situation has almost become completely insecure, and the usual activities in the camp, such as bars or meetings, are paralyzed. People are afraid. » »

An appeal to the international community and the relevant authorities

Faced with this increasingly worrying situation, the families of the arrested refugees are demanding answers. They are calling on the police to provide information on the whereabouts of their loved ones, while also calling on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to strengthen protection in the camp.

The refugees are also turning to the international community, calling for increased pressure on the Tanzanian authorities to end the abuses and intimidation and to uphold their commitments to refugee protection.

Nduta, home to more than 58,000 Burundian refugees, is a place where living conditions are already difficult, and this new escalation of arrests raises fears of a rapid deterioration of the security situation.

The Tanzanian authorities and the UNHCR are now called upon to take urgent measures to clarify this situation and guarantee the safety of the refugees living in growing uncertainty.
Nduta (Tanzania): Several arrests that seems like kidnappings raise concerns among refugees

SOS Médias Burundi

About ten Burundian refugees have been arrested in less than two weeks at the Nduta camp. No motive has been given. The refugees are worried and are sounding the alarm.

Nduta, April 9, 2025 – The Nduta refugee camp in Tanzania is currently experiencing a wave of arrests causing serious concern among the population. According to information gathered from community leaders, at least eleven refugees, including three women and several young men, have been arrested in two weeks, without any explanation being provided. These arrests took place in several areas of the camp, including zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, and 17.

The incidents took place mainly on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of last week, as well as Tuesday of this week. As illustration, Nestor Manirakiza, from zone 5, and Melchior, from zone 12, are among the arrested. Others including Ismael and Diomède, are from zones 8 and 17. However, local authorities struggle to provide an exact number, amidst the daily increasing number in the arrests.

Arrests based on unclear motives

Refugees are concerned by the lack of any detail on these arrests while a big number of them took place during everyday events such as the food distribution in April. Another refugee was arrested at his home in a village where people requiring special protection live. According to testimonies collected, these arrests are often carried out by police officers who arrive in pickup trucks, armed with lists of names, and accompanied by individuals who remain anonymous.

« We fear the worst. Some are being held in Kibondo prison, but for others, we don’t even know where they are, » refugees say. These arrests are perceived as enforced disappearances, and several families have no news of their loved ones.

Repeated abuses against burundian Refugees

Abuses against Burundian refugees in Tanzania are unfortunately far from an isolated phenomenon. For several years, refugees have faced harsh living conditions and systematic human rights violations. Reports from NGOs and international organizations document arbitrary arrests, prolonged pretrial detention, and physical and psychological violence inflicted by security agents and Tanzanian authorities.

Tanzanian authorities, in collaboration with local security forces, are often accused of intimidating and harassing Burundian refugees. These actions are often justified on grounds of « national security, » but are perceived as flagrant violations of refugees’ fundamental rights.

Furthermore, refugees regularly face physical abuse, extortion, and threats of violence. Testimonies collected at Nduta camp reveal that some refugees have been beaten and detained without justifiable reason, simply because of their ethnic origin or their alleged political ties to the Burundian armed opposition.

Speculation about the reasons for the arrests

The reasons for these arrests remain unclear, but some refugees have put forward several theories. Possible explanations include an investigation into an armed robbery that allegedly took place in the camp in late March, cases related to the exchange of counterfeit banknotes, or even political motives. These theories fuel growing fear within the community, especially as the security situation appears to be rapidly deteriorating.

An employee of a humanitarian NGO operating in the camp shared his concern: « I no longer feel safe here. I have changed my habits and daily routines; I no longer answer unknown calls and I am constantly on my guard. » Another refugee added: « The situation has almost become completely insecure, and the usual activities in the camp, such as bars or meetings, are paralyzed. People are afraid. » »

An appeal to the international community and the relevant authorities

Faced with this increasingly worrying situation, the families of the arrested refugees are demanding answers. They are calling on the police to provide information on the whereabouts of their loved ones, while also calling on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to strengthen protection in the camp.

The refugees are also turning to the international community, calling for increased pressure on the Tanzanian authorities to end the abuses and intimidation and to uphold their commitments to refugee protection.

Nduta, home to more than 58,000 Burundian refugees, is a place where living conditions are already difficult, and this new escalation of arrests raises fears of a rapid deterioration of the security situation.

The Tanzanian authorities and the UNHCR are now called upon to take urgent measures to clarify this situation and guarantee the safety of the refugees living in growing uncertainty.

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A Burundian refugee in front of his house in Nduta ©️ SOS Médias Burundi​