THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

How voluntary and safe are Burundian refugee returns from Tanzania? 18 Jun The coercive repatriation of refugees risks reproducing cycles of displacement ahead of Burundi’s 2027 elections, writeTatien Nkeshimana and Bram Verelstin ISS Today. Since December 2025, tens of thousands of Burundian refugees in Tanzania have returned to Burundi, mainly from Nduta camp, which closed in April. Most had fled Burundi after former president Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to seek a third term triggered violent protests in 2015, followed by a failed coup and repression. The returns accelerated after November 2025 when the Tanzania-Burundi-United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) tripartite commissionagreedto close Nduta and Nyarugusu camps by mid-2026, affecting about 142 000 Burundian refugees. But the process has been far from voluntary, as required by international refugee law. Refugee shelters are being demolished, and freedom of movement is restricted, according toreports. Refugees are being pressured to register for repatriation, without which they cannot access humanitarian assistance. Refugees, humanitarian organisations and civil society organisations (CSOs) havedocumentedintimidation …

Tanzania imposes return of Burundians despite risks and the Geneva ... 12 December 2025 PCN Refugees Tanzania imposes return of Burundians despite risks and the Geneva Convention SOS Médias Burundi Kigoma, December 12, 2025 – The 26th meeting of the Tripartite Commission on the repatriation of Burundian refugees in Tanzania, held on November 28, 2025, set the pace for the so-called “voluntary” returns : 3,000 people per week, including 2,000 from the Nduta camp and 1,000 from Nyarugusu. This decision was adopted by the Tanzanian authorities, Burundi, and the UNHCR, represented by Country Representative Barbara Bentum Williams Dotse. Pressure and intimidation in the camps Refugees denounce a climate of coercion : Demolition of homes for even the slightest infraction and placement on repatriation lists Closure of markets, schools, churches, and health centers Ban on commercial and agricultural activities, as well as vehicles, within the camps Arbitrary arrests and targeted abductions “A Burundian refugee seen outside the camp is treated like a criminal, imprisoned and sometimes tortured, then sent back to Burundi, in violation of the Refugee Convention,” — a leader from the Nyarugus…

Concerns raised by Burundian refugees about 'coercive' repatriation ... FacebookTwitterPrintEmail Concerns have been raised about the “coercive” repatriation from Tanzania of Burundian refugees, many of whom do not want to return to their home country. As of the end of November 2025, there were over 140,000 Burundian refugees in neighbouring Tanzania, who have fled over years of civil unrest in Burundi. While thousands continue to be “voluntarily repatriated”, an official with the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) saysthousands may still need international protection in Tanzania. Up to 17,000 say they are unable to return over fears for their safety or danger of political persecution. They include members of the political opposition and former military personnel. “There are increasing concerns from refugees on forced returns and coercive measures,” said UNHCR’s Bahia Egeh, who is based in Tanzania. “We also continue to advocate against any coercive measures for the refugees in the camps.” Adding to these concerns are reports that during the repatriation process in Tanzania, refugee shelters are being “demolished” and some Burundi refugees are being subject to “mistreatment”, UNHCR r…

How voluntary and safe are Burundian refugee returns from Tanzania? Note: Search is limited to the most recent 250 articles. To access earlier articles, click Advanced Search and set an earlier date range.To search for a term containing the '&' symbol, click Advanced Search and use the 'search headings' and/or 'in first paragraph' options. Sponsored by Sponsored by Sponsored by How voluntary and safe are Burundian refugee returns from Tanzania? Should you have feedback on this article, please complete the fields below.Please indicate if your feedback is in the form of a letter to the editor that you wish to have published. If so, please be aware that we require that you keep your feedback to below 300 words and we will consider its publication online or in Creamer Media’s print publications, at Creamer Media’s discretion.We also welcome factual corrections and tip-offs and will protect the identity of our sources, please indicate if this is your wish in your feedback below. Embed VideoPopup VideoInstagram DownloadBuy Photos 19th June 2026By:ISS, Institute for Security Studies ARTICLE ENQUIRYSAVE THIS ARTICLEEMAIL THIS ARTICLE Font size:-+ The coercive repatriation of Bu…

Africa: How Voluntary and Safe Are Burundian Refugee Returns From ... The coercive repatriation of Burundian refugees risks reproducing cycles of displacement ahead of Burundi's 2027 elections. Since December 2025, tens of thousands of Burundian refugees in Tanzania have returned to Burundi, mainly from Nduta camp, which closed in April. Most had fled Burundi after former president Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to seek a third term triggered violent protests in 2015, followed by a failed coup and repression. The returns accelerated after November 2025 when the Tanzania-Burundi-United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) tripartite commissionagreedto close Nduta and Nyarugusu camps by mid-2026, affecting about 142 000 Burundian refugees. Refugees, humanitarian organisations and civil society organisations (CSOs) havedocumentedintimidation by Tanzanian police against refugees. In Burundi, the arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances of civilians heighten refugees' fears for their safety. Members or supporters of Burundi's political opposition are especially worried about persecution should they return. Follow us onWhatsApp|LinkedInfor the latest headlines The timing of this repat…

Africa: How Voluntary and Safe Are Burundian Refugee Returns From Tanzania? [ISS] The coercive repatriation of Burundian refugees risks reproducing cycles of displacement ahead of Burundi's 2027 elections.

Voluntary Return for Burundian Refugees. - JRS Eastern and Southern Africa Since 2015, political unrest and insecurity have forced hundreds of thousands of Burundians to seek refuge in neighboring countries. Today, Tanzania hosts one of the largest Burundian refugee populations, with many living in Nduta and Nyarugusu refugee camps. For nearly a decade, life in displacement has been defined by resilience, but also by uncertainty. Many refugees remain torn between fears of returning home and the daily struggles of camp life, including dwindling resources, shrinking humanitarian aid, and limited opportunities for self-reliance. With regional stability gradually improving, the conversation around voluntary, safe, and dignified return has taken center stage. From April 21st to 26th, 2025, a joint delegation from the Governments of Burundi and Tanzania, supported by UNHCR, JRS, HELPage, and IRC, visited Nduta and Nyarugusu camps with one primary goal: to listen, inform, and open dialogue about voluntary repatriation. Led by the Permanent Secretary of the Burundian Ministry of Interior, the mission engaged with: Camp authorities, Local Tanzanian leaders, And most critically, the ref…

Concerns raised by Burundian refugees about 'coercive' repatriation ... Concerns raised by Burundian refugees about ‘coercive’ repatriation from Tanzania 24 February 2026 © UNHCR/Maimuna Mtengela The UN refugee agency is supporting the repatriation of people from Tanzania to Burundi. Concerns have been raised about the “coercive” repatriation from Tanzania of Burundian refugees, many of whom do not want to return to their home country. As of the end of November 2025, there were over 140,000 Burundian refugees in neighbouring Tanzania, who have fled over years of civil unrest in Burundi. While thousands continue to be “voluntarily repatriated”, an official with the UN refugee agency ( UNHCR ) says thousands may still need international protection in Tanzania . Up to 17,000 say they are unable to return over fears for their safety or danger of political persecution. They include members of the political opposition and former military personnel. “ There are increasing concerns from refugees on forced returns and coercive measures ,” said UNHCR’s Bahia Egeh, who is based in Tanzania. “We also continue to advocate against any coercive measures for the refugees in the camps.” Adding to …