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Rutana : Congolese refugees angry after an alleged embezzlement of a humanitarian aid

SOS Médias Burundi

Rutana, May 4, 2025 – Tensions are running high at the Musenyi site in Rutana province, southeastern Burundi. Hundreds of Congolese refugees demonstrated violently last week to denounce what they call the embezzlement of humanitarian aid recently donated by the First Ladies of Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Makeshift barricades made of tree trunks and stones have been erected on the roads leading to the site. Refugees claim to have seen two trucks carrying corn flour, sugar, and other food items leave the site in broad daylight, without explanation. These items are reportedly among the large donations recently handed out during the First Ladies’ joint visits.

« We live in poverty. And when aid finally arrives, we see it leave by truck without knowing why. It’s revolting, » laments Argot, a refugee in Musenyi for four months.

Faced with growing anger, the Burundian police were deployed. On instructions from their superiors, local authorities ordered the blocking of the remaining trucks, believing that their movement had not been authorized by the relevant government services.

Mistrust persists despite this intervention. Some young people spent a night on the roads, demanding the presence of Burundian and Congolese authorities, as well as representatives from the UNHCR. They are demanding transparent explanations.

« We were promised generous aid. They talk about 30 containers, but we only receive one kilo of rice, one kilo of beans, and one kilo of flour. Where’s the rest? » fumes Kevin, another refugee.

Calm only returned on Thursday, May 1st, thanks to the intervention of Dieudonné Sumbu, the refugee representative. He initiated a dialogue with UNHCR officials. The latter cited a lack of storage space in Musenyi, justifying the temporary transfer of food supplies to Ruyigi, a province in eastern Burundi.

Given the scale of the crisis, the DRC embassy sent a delegation to the area. It called for calm and promised to open an investigation into the management of aid.

During their respective visits, the First Ladies delivered massive amounts of humanitarian aid. The First Lady of Burundi offered ten tons of rice, one ton of beans, corn flour, oil, loincloths, and soap. As for her Congolese counterpart, she donated 225 tons of corn flour, 100 tons of beans, 75 tons of sugar, 40 tons of soybeans, as well as clothing, soap, and more than 43,000 packs of sanitary napkins.

The Musenyi site currently hosts more than 18,000 Congolese refugees who have fled violence in eastern DRC.

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Part of the Musenyi site hosting Congolese refugees, April 2025 (SOS Médias Burundi)