September 09, 2019

Tanzania and Burundi should tread carefully on the forceful repatriation of refugees

topic:	Refugees and Asylum
located:	Burundi, Tanzania
editor:	Bob Koigi

A secret agreement between the governments of Burundi and Tanzania that will see thousands of refugees residing in Tanzania repatriated with or without their consent has not only raised concerns about the dangers that await them in their volatile home country, but also brought to the fore the growing violation of the rights of refugees and other vulnerable communities. This especially among state actors who have a fiduciary international duty to guarantee the safety and protection of rights of those who seek shelter in their countries. 

Tanzania has provided a safe haven to Burundi nationals running away from the war that has spiralled out of control over the years while being occasioned by grave crimes against humanity and serious human rights violations by parties to the conflict. This has earned Tanzania global admiration and support. 

The repatriation programme that was rolled out in 2017 and overseen by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has seen up to 75,000 people voluntarily return home to slowly rebuild their lives. 

But UNHCR, which has been monitoring the situation in Burundi, has been quick to warn of the dangers of expedited repatriation, insisting that the refugees need to consent to the return and feel safe to move back home. This advice however has been ignored by both Tanzania and Burundi governments. The two countries are treading on dangerous grounds with the latest agreement which seeks to have all refugees return by December. 

The reason should guide the return if both countries want to avoid a recurrence of conflict and the spillover impacts which will be felt beyond these countries. Heeding to UNHCR warnings and actively involving the agency in managing the transition for the refugees is paramount. 

Image: UNHCR/Georgina Goodwin