Burundian returnees arriving from Tanzania express their struggles and hardships, as many face destruction of their homes and pressure during the repatriation process.
This report focuses on the plight of Burundian refugees who fled political violence in 2015 and are now returning to their homeland from Tanzania nearly a decade later. The repatriation, ostensibly voluntary, is witnessing troubling reports from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) regarding the conditions of repatriation, with many returnees encountering pressure and mistreatment along with the destruction of their properties back in Burundi.
At a transit center in Nyabitare, Victor Nkurikiye, a returnee, illustrates the harsh realities faced by many. He describes bringing back rusted sheets, remnants of the temporary shelter he had in the Nduta refugee camp, where he had lived for ten years before being forced out by Tanzanian authorities. This personal account highlights the emotional and material losses suffered by returnees who are expected to reintegrate into a country that may no longer feel like home.
As thousands of Burundians return weekly under an agreement between Gitega and Dar es Salaam, the UNHCR's concerns about potential forced repatriations add a layer of complexity to this situation. With many returnees' homes already demolished and facing civilian pressures, the international community will need to closely monitor the situation to ensure that their human rights and dignity are protected during this transition back to Burundi.
