Burundi ONPRA: Forced Refugee Return Policy Sparks Outcry

• ONPRA coordinator Richard Uwimana has ordered all refugees living outside camps in Burundi to return to their original settlement locations by October 20, 2026.
• The directive is officially justified as a security measure to control the refugee population amid regional instability.
• This policy follows the public presentation of 13 individuals, mostly Banyamulenge refugees, accused of spying, leading to fears of stigmatization within the community.
• Refugees rely on economic activities outside camps due to decreased humanitarian aid and insufficient food rations, making the forced return a severe threat to their livelihoods.
• The directive is seen by refugees as a contradiction to calls for empowerment from UNHCR and ONPRA, arguing for individual accountability over collective punishment.

The directive, framed as a security measure, threatens to strip numerous families of their primary income streams, particularly as humanitarian assistance has dwindled and existing food provisions are inadequate.

The National Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (ONPRA) in Burundi has issued a controversial directive demanding that all refugees currently residing outside designated camps return to their original settlement locations. This policy, championed by ONPRA coordinator Richard Uwimana, is being presented by authorities as a crucial security measure aimed at enhancing oversight and control over the refugee population amidst ongoing conflict and instability across the Great Lakes region.

Uwimana reiterated this mandate on October 16, 2026, during a visit to the Musenyi site, situated in the Musongati district of Burunga province in southeastern Burundi. The Burundi ONPRA forced refugee return policy has immediately sparked widespread anger and concern among the affected communities, who fear the severe repercussions on their daily lives and ability to sustain themselves.

This stringent Burundi refugee camp policy follows closely on the heels of a significant security incident. Just days prior to Uwimana's tour, the spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security, Pierre Nkurikiye, publicly presented thirteen individuals, predominantly Banyamulenge refugees, accusing them of espionage on behalf of Rwanda and armed factions operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These suspects were displayed in handcuffs to journalists at the National Intelligence Service (SNR) headquarters in Bujumbura, Burundi's commercial capital.

In the wake of this presentation, Nkurikiye urged Burundian citizens to monitor the Banyamulenge community and cease renting accommodation to them. Relatives of those accused vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that the refugees had fled violence in the Minembwe Highlands of South Kivu to safeguard their lives and families. This public incident has reignited deep-seated fears of stigmatization within the Burundi Banyamulenge refugees community, with many now apprehensive of being collectively associated with security threats.

The directive poses a severe threat to the economic survival of numerous refugee families. Many refugees depend on income-generating activities outside the camps, such as small-scale trading or day labor in Bujumbura, to supplement the significantly reduced humanitarian aid and insufficient food rations provided within the settlements. The Burundi refugee livelihood impact of this forced return is expected to be profound, as these external activities represent their primary means of sustenance.

One refugee from the Musenyi site, who earns a living by selling clothes in Bujumbura, expressed grave concerns, highlighting that his business is not a luxury but a necessity for feeding his family in the camp and covering their medical expenses. He questioned how his family would survive upon his return to the camp, citing the absence of work and customers there. This sentiment is widely shared among refugees, who anticipate a drastic decline in their purchasing power and an increased dependency on aid that is already scarce.

Refugees argue that the Richard Uwimana refugee directive contradicts the very principles of empowerment advocated by organizations like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and even ONPRA itself. They point out the irony of being encouraged to become self-reliant while simultaneously being stripped of the means to do so. This perceived UNHCR Burundi policy contradiction underscores the precarious position of refugees caught between conflicting directives.

Furthermore, refugees dispute the broad security justification for the forced returns, contending that individuals suspected of illegal activities should face individual accountability rather than penalizing the entire refugee population. As one refugee articulated, an individual engaged in legitimate commerce to support their family should not be considered a security threat, emphasizing that their economic activities are essential for survival, not subversion.

Lawyers advising NGOs or international organizations on refugee protection in Burundi should monitor ONPRA's forced return policy for potential human rights violations and its impact on refugee livelihoods, particularly for the Banyamulenge community. This development may necessitate advocacy or legal intervention regarding refugee rights and access to basic necessities.

Source: Original reporting via SOS Médias Burundi