Burundi: Accepts US Third-Country Deportees Despite Human Rights Concerns

• Burundi has accepted twelve individuals deported from the United States, despite facing severe internal challenges.
• These deportees, from Angola, Cameroon, Mauritania, and Sudan, arrived on August 27, 2026, and are not being returned to their countries of origin.
• Human Rights Watch warns of significant risks associated with such third-country transfers, citing lack of safeguards, arbitrary detention, and potential for further persecution.
• President Évariste Ndayishimiye has affirmed Burundi's willingness to accept more deportees, citing national hospitality and a desire to strengthen international ties.
• The transferred individuals are expected to be housed in a center in Gitega, though details on future arrivals and care remain limited.

The organization has voiced serious concerns regarding the potential for arbitrary detention, ill-treatment, and the risk of subsequent deportation from these third countries to places where individuals might face persecution or torture.

Burundi has begun accepting individuals deported from the United States, even as the nation grapples with significant internal challenges. Twelve such individuals have already arrived in the East African country, marking a new phase in US immigration third-country transfers. This development comes despite Burundi's ongoing economic difficulties, severe overcrowding in its prison system, and persistent resource shortages across the country.

The initial group of twelve deportees, comprising eleven men and one woman, arrived in Burundi on August 27, 2026. These individuals originated from various nations including Angola, Cameroon, Mauritania, and Sudan, highlighting that they are not being returned to their countries of origin. Discussions between the Burundian government in Gitega and Washington regarding these transfers commenced in December 2025, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation indicating in February 2026 that the transferred individuals would receive care consistent with Burundi’s international obligations. The Ministry also specified that Burundi would not accept individuals who had committed violent crimes.

The arrangement recently gained public attention during a broadcast in Ngozi, Butanyerera Province, on September 29. During this event, Nancy Ninette Mutoni, spokesperson for President Évariste Ndayishimiye, confirmed Burundi's continued willingness to accept more individuals deported from the United States. She further clarified that those transferred would not face legal repercussions within Burundi. However, neither Mutoni nor other Burundian authorities have provided a precise timeline for future arrivals or a definitive number of individuals expected, a detail also noted by the Associated Press.

The practice of transferring non-US citizens to third countries, particularly to African states, has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations. Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a report on Thursday, October 3, 2026, specifically warning about the inherent risks of such transfers and condemning the notable absence of adequate safeguards for the rights of these individuals. The report underscores a broader pattern, documenting the deportation of over 500 people to various African countries between January 2025 and August 2026, many of whom have no prior connection to their designated destination.

HRW's investigation included interviews with 24 individuals who had been transferred to six different African nations. Their testimonies paint a concerning picture: some reported being handcuffed or shackled during their transfers, receiving minimal information about their ultimate destination, and encountering difficult conditions upon arrival. The organization has voiced serious concerns regarding the potential for arbitrary detention, ill-treatment, and the risk of subsequent deportation from these third countries to places where individuals might face persecution or torture. These findings directly impact the US immigration third-country transfers policy, raising significant questions about its adherence to international human rights standards.

Despite the human rights concerns and Burundi's own internal struggles, President Évariste Ndayishimiye has consistently affirmed the nation's readiness to continue receiving deportees from Washington. The President himself confirmed cooperation with Washington in an interview with France, reinforcing the government's position. a Ministry of Justice, Keeper of the Government Seals, Human Rights and Gender official indicated that the transferred individuals are slated to be housed in a dedicated center located in Gitega, Burundi's political capital. However, this same source noted that very few people within Burundi were informed about the initial arrival, contributing to a lack of transparency that fuels questions about the conditions of transfer and subsequent care.

When questioned about the potential benefits Burundi might gain from this arrangement, presidential spokesperson Nancy Ninette Mutoni downplayed the notion of a quid pro quo based solely on material gain. Instead, she emphasized Burundi's long-standing tradition of hospitality towards those in need. Mutoni suggested that this initiative could also serve to strengthen Burundi's international ties, asserting that the country prioritizes peace, expanding its network of allies, and fostering positive global relationships. She also sought to reassure the Burundian public, stating that the decision to accept deportees should not create any problems for the nation.

Lawyers advising non-US citizens facing deportation, especially those who are not being returned to their country of origin, must be aware of agreements like the US-Burundi transfer arrangement. This development introduces new potential destinations and raises significant human rights concerns regarding arbitrary detention and lack of safeguards, requiring careful consideration in deportation defense strategies.

Source: Original reporting via recent news dispatches.