By November 2025, Tanzania hosted over 140,000 Burundian refugees, having fled years of civil unrest in Burundi.
Though many are being “voluntarily repatriated”, a UNHCR official states thousands still require international protection in Tanzania.
About 17,000 express they can’t return due to safety concerns or fears of political persecution, including political opposition members and former military personnel.
“There are rising concerns among refugees about forced returns and coercive measures,” said UNHCR’s Bahia Egeh, who is stationed in Tanzania. “We also continue to oppose any coercive measures for the refugees in the camps.”
Concerns are heightened by reports of “demolished” refugee shelters and “mistreatment” of Burundians during repatriation in Tanzania, revealed UNHCR on Tuesday.
UNHCR’s stance on forced repatriations, or refoulement, is firmly rooted in international refugee law: refugees and asylum-seekers must not be returned to places where their lives or freedom are at risk.
History of Displacement
Many refugees in Tanzania have experienced displacement before, fleeing the Burundian civil war in the 1990s and early 2000s, returning to Burundi, and fleeing again during the 2015 political unrest.
Currently, two refugee camps exist in Tanzania’s North-Western Kigoma region: Nduta and the larger Nyarugusu.
Many seek to move to Nyarugusu following the planned closure of Nduta camp in March.
Ms. Egeh highlighted the “challenging conditions for the refugees” in these camps due to reduced UNHCR funding impacting services.
UNHCR facilitated the voluntary returns of approximately 390,000 refugees from Tanzania between 2002-2009, while around 162,000 Burundians were granted Tanzanian citizenship in 2014.
In 2015, there was a significant increase in individuals fleeing Burundi to Tanzania.
Current Situation
In 2017, conditions were deemed safe for Burundian refugees to return.
A tripartite agreement was made by UNHCR with the governments of Burundi and Tanzania to voluntarily repatriate. Initial progress was good, but the COVID pandemic caused a decline in repatriations for some years.
Recently, efforts have intensified with a late 2025 target of repatriating 3,000 refugees weekly as part of an updated tripartite agreement.
UNHCR has moved from simply facilitating to actively promoting and supporting voluntary returns to Burundi.
Uptick in 2026
In the first two months of 2026, over 28,000 Burundian refugees have returned from Tanzania.
With 8,000 returning in the past week—exceeding the weekly target—the total repatriations since the 2017 agreement surpass 180,000 refugees.
However, UNHCR, on Tuesday, expressed concern that during these accelerated efforts, “refugee shelters have been demolished, forcing people to take temporary refuge in overcrowded departure centres, worsening conditions on the ground. Additionally, some refugees have reportedly faced mistreatment.”
Comments
7 responses to “Concerns Raised About ‘Coercive’ Repatriation of Burundian Refugees from Tanzania”
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Seems like the Tanzanian government has taken a masterclass in ‘how to win friends and influence people’—by sending refugees packing while demolishing their shelters. Bravo! 👏 It’s almost like a twisted holiday package; “Come back, we promise it’ll be… well, interesting!” 🏚️✈️
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Just what we need—more “voluntary” trips back to Burundi, where safety is as reliable as a dodgy taxi meter in Paris. 🌍✈️ I suppose they think a few dodgy shelters and a sprinkle of political concern adds a nice touch to their holiday plans, eh? 😏
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Repatriating refugees while demolishing their homes? Sounds like a lovely holiday package – just without the sun and cocktails! 😅 #BestVacationEver
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Seems like “voluntary” repatriation is the new black in international relations—who knew a one-way ticket home could come with a side of coercion? 😂 Just what we needed, a perfect blend of hospitality and heavy-handedness, right?
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Brilliant plan, really. Who doesn’t love a bit of “voluntary” repatriation with a side of demolished shelters and overcrowded camps? Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, doesn’t it? 😂
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Oh, fantastic! Nothing screams ‘voluntary’ like a refugee camp being turned into a demolition site. Who knew returning home could come with such a lovely surprise? 🙄✈️
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Looks like they’re really rolling out the red carpet for the refugees—oh wait, that’s just the path to the exit. 🤷♂️ Forced repatriation is the new “voluntary,” eh? What a masterclass in diplomacy! 🎭
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Repatriation in Tanzania, eh? Sounds like the perfect holiday package—complete with demolished shelters and a side of mistreatment. Just what every refugee dreams of! 🏖️😏
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Concerns Raised About ‘Coercive’ Repatriation of Burundian Refugees from Tanzania
By November 2025, Tanzania hosted over 140,000 Burundian refugees, having fled years of civil unrest in Burundi.
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