UN Demands Investigation into Tanzania's Burundi Refugee Repatriation

June 23, 2026 — Blessing Okafor 4 min read

Human rights monitors are raising urgent questions about the conditions facing Burundian refugees pressured to return home from Tanzania. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has called for independent verification of whether returns organised over the past two years were genuinely voluntary and safe. Tanzania hosts one of Africa's largest refugee populations, and the pace of repatriation has accelerated despite persistent concerns from advocacy groups.

Pressure to Leave Camps Intensifies

The repatriation programme began gaining momentum in 2022 after Tanzania and Burundi signed agreements aimed at winding down the refugee caseload. Since then, more than 60,000 Burundians have crossed back into their homeland from settlements in northwestern Tanzania. Aid workers say many departures followed pressure from Tanzanian authorities, including threats of forced relocation and restrictions on food aid distribution. UNHCR acknowledged it had verified thousands of returns but acknowledged that verification occurred only at border points, leaving gaps in documenting what happened inside camps beforehand.

Conditions Inside Burundi Remain Troubling

Refugees who returned to Burundi describe a complex situation. Some families found their homes occupied or land deeds disputed. Others faced difficulties reclaiming property abandoned during the 2015 political crisis that first sparked mass displacement. The Burundian government has established return committees to assist reintegration, but monitors from the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights reported inconsistent support across provinces. Several returnees told humanitarian workers they felt compelled to accept return packages without fully understanding what assistance they would receive upon arrival.

What Verification Gaps Mean

UNHCR's standard procedure requires individual interviews before departure to confirm voluntariness. However, sources familiar with the process say interview rooms were sometimes crowded, translation services inconsistent, and alternatives to return not clearly presented. The agency declined to provide specific figures on how many returnees received follow-up visits after three months. Without systematic post-return monitoring, the true picture of whether people remained safely in Burundi or became displaced again remains unclear.

Regional Context and Previous Displacement

Burundi's 2015 political upheaval sent hundreds of thousands of people fleeing, primarily to Tanzania, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tanzania's previous government under John Magufuli had maintained relatively open borders, and the camps in Kigoma Region swelled to host nearly 250,000 Burundians at their peak. The current repatriation push coincides with political normalisation between Tanzania and Burundi, including restored diplomatic ties and increased trade. Critics argue the timeline for returns has been driven more by political agreements than by conditions on the ground in Burundi.

Tanzania's Position on the Returns

Tanzanian officials maintain that all returns were voluntary and conducted in coordination with UNHCR. The government has argued that prolonged encampment is unsustainable and that refugees deserve opportunities to rebuild lives in their home country. Tanzania has also pointed to its own development pressures, particularly in regions hosting large camps that strain local infrastructure and natural resources. However, advocacy groups say the government should have ensured conditions in Burundi were truly safe before facilitating mass returns rather than simply accepting Burundian government assurances.

What Watchdogs Are Calling For

Human Rights Watch issued a report calling for an independent mechanism to assess conditions in Burundi before any further organised returns proceed. The organisation wants suspension of large-scale repatriation until independent monitors can verify safety and voluntariness throughout the process. UNHCR has resisted calls for a complete halt but agreed to increased monitoring in specific provinces where reintegration challenges appear most acute. The agency's regional bureau in Nairobi said it was working with Burundian authorities to improve data collection and post-return support.

What Happens Next

An estimated 80,000 Burundian refugees remain in Tanzania, and the repatriation agreement envisions most returning within the next two years. Burundi's government has promised to allocate land and provide startup resources for returning families, though delivery of those commitments has been uneven. International donors have pledged funding for reintegration programmes, but disbursement has lagged behind the pace of returns. Over the coming months, observers will be watching whether UNHCR's expanded monitoring reaches enough returnees to produce credible data, and whether Burundian authorities can address the property disputes and service gaps that continue to complicate reintegration. The next quarterly review between UNHCR, Tanzania, and Burundi is scheduled for October, when all three parties will assess progress against the repatriation timeline and face renewed pressure from rights groups demanding greater transparency.