Buhumuza: Forced Burundian Refugee Return From Tanzania Strains Province

• Tens of thousands of Burundian households, totaling nearly 100,000 individuals, have been compelled to return from Tanzanian refugee camps to Burundi's Buhumuza province by August 26, 2026.
• This repatriation, following the closure of Nduta and Nyarugusu camps, is officially justified by improved security, but independent reports raise concerns about ongoing instability in Burundi.
• Buhumuza, already hosting nearly 95,000 Congolese refugees, faces severe pressure on land, housing, and basic services due to the new influx.
• Many returnees struggle with land access, finding former properties altered or insufficient for farming, leading some to re-exile in Uganda or Rwanda.
• Government assistance for returnees is time-limited to three years, with officials emphasizing that repatriation alone does not guarantee successful reintegration.

Repatriation should not be considered an end in itself, as simply returning to Burundi does not guarantee successful reintegration.

The province of Buhumuza in Burundi is currently grappling with the significant influx of Burundian returnees from Tanzania, many of whom were compelled to leave their refugee settlements. As of August 26, 2026, tens of thousands of Burundian households, totaling nearly 100,000 individuals, have returned to the region after residing in Tanzania. This substantial movement, often characterized as a forced Burundian refugee return from Tanzania, primarily targets Buhumuza due to its proximity to the border.

This large-scale repatriation follows the closure of the Nduta and Nyarugusu camps in Tanzania. The process was initiated through collaborative decisions made by Tanzanian authorities and the Burundian government, both of whom cite an improved security situation and a return to peace in Burundi as justification. However, various independent reports continue to express serious concerns regarding the ongoing security and political stability within the country, raising questions about the voluntariness of these returns.

Cyprien Nduwimana, who oversees repatriation and reintegration efforts for the Ministry of the Interior in Gitega and Buhumuza provinces, confirmed the scale of the return. The primary entry point for this substantial refugee influx has been the Cijongwo border crossing in Gisuru district. By June 30, 2026, the official closing date for the Nduta and Nyarugusu camps, over 32,000 households had reportedly crossed at Cijongwo, with an additional 9,148 households utilizing this route in May and June alone. This concentrated arrival underscores the immense logistical and humanitarian challenges.

The arrival of nearly 100,000 Burundian returnees is placing immense additional pressure on Buhumuza, a province already struggling with significant humanitarian demands. Buhumuza currently hosts nearly 95,000 Congolese refugees who fled violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, primarily settled in camps such as Bwagiriza, Kavumu, Nyankanda, and the Busuma site. The new influx exacerbates an already precarious situation, particularly concerning access to vital resources.

The massive influx of returnees is straining available land, housing, and essential social services across several communities. Difficulties in securing adequate land for resettlement and livelihoods are a major concern. Many returnees, having spent years in Tanzania, find their former properties altered or insufficient for resuming agricultural activities. Demographic pressure, particularly acute in certain areas of Gitega, further complicates the challenge of Burundian returnee land access. Some returnees have sought to purchase plots in areas like Kabuyenge, near the Tanzanian border, to engage in small-scale cross-border trading, highlighting the desperate search for economic opportunities.

Despite the official narrative of improved security driving the Burundi refugee repatriation, the reality on the ground presents significant challenges to sustainable reintegration. Reports from organizations like SOS Médias Burundi have documented instances of former refugees, after returning to Burundi, being compelled to seek asylum again in neighboring countries such as Uganda and Rwanda. This phenomenon highlights the persistent security concerns and the difficulties many face in re-establishing their lives.

Authorities have indicated that assistance provided to returnees to facilitate their resettlement is time-limited, with support expected to cease after a three-year period. Beneficiaries are then anticipated to become self-sufficient, integrating fully into society like other citizens. However, Pascal Kanani, an advisor on political affairs to the administrator of Ruyigi, cautions that simply returning to Burundi does not guarantee successful reintegration. He emphasizes that repatriation should not be considered an end in itself, a sentiment that underscores the complex Burundi refugee repatriation challenges. Cyprien Nduwimana also stressed the necessity for enhanced coordination among authorities and partners to prevent duplication of aid efforts amidst the Cijongwo border refugee influx and ensure more effective support for the returnees.

Lawyers and compliance officers should monitor the legality and human rights implications of the forced repatriation of Burundian refugees from Tanzania, particularly concerning the principle of non-refoulement and the voluntariness of return, given reports of continued insecurity and the severe pressure on resources in Buhumuza. This situation presents potential for international law challenges and humanitarian advocacy.

Source: Original reporting via SOS Médias Burundi