Tanzanian authorities conducted a massive campaign to incite Burundian refugees to return home. The latter fear an imminent “forced” repatriation. Several organizations pull the emergency cord.
Burundian refugees worried about repression threat
Speeches and acts of Tanzanian high authorities that sound like threats to Burundian refugees.
Their speeches are about peace and security in Burundi. Refugees must not drag their feet. The Tanzanian Interior Minister, during a visit to Nduta camp on July 24th, said. “This is a last warning. Everyone must be registered on the voluntary repatriation list. ”
And Emmanuel Maganga, governor of Kigoma, warned the following day: “Whoever will oppose this decision will be jailed by the Tanzanian police”. Kigoma hosts Nyarugusu, Nduta and Mtendeli refugee camps.
Authorities decided to prohibit any income-generating activity. In a statement released on Saturday, July 28, the supervisor of Mtendeli camp announced the closing of trade, bars and restaurants, guest houses, and motorcycle transport. Refugees from this camp perceived this as an operation to make them starve and force them to go back home. Some will opt for returning home, others will ask Tanzania to look for another host country.
Rhetoric of Ngara
As a reminder, John Pombe Magufuli had made complimentary remarks about “his brother” who brought peace and security to his country on July 20, 2017, during Nkurunziza’s visit to Ngara, Tanzania. Echoing Bujumbura’s rhetoric of “all is going well,” the Tanzanian went further accusing UNHCR of increasing the numbers of Burundian refugees and preventing them from returning home.
And then the Minister of the Interior had denounced the behavior of the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees. The refugees had organized demonstrations, protesting against UNHCR, which “does not facilitate their return”. On this occasion, Minister Mwigulu Nchemba said: “UNHCR is very happy to welcome them as refugees, but when it comes to helping them to return, it is indifferent. All these camps are now unnecessary. We must close them …”
The recent UNHCR report of 30 June said there were 237,000 Burundian refugees living in Tanzanian. The tripartite agreement between this country, Burundi and UNHCR on repatriation was put in place. It planned to repatriate 2,000 people per week from April 5 to December 31, 2018. In total no less than 72,000 Burundian refugees have wished to return to their homeland by the end of 2018.
Reactions
UNHCR: “There is still an urgent need of international protection”
UNHCR rejects statements by the Tanzanian authorities according to which UN agencies are delaying the return of Burundian refugees to their country. It says it is concerned about the Tanzanian authorities’ recent statements and actions to Burundian refugees that, according to this organization, are likely to force refugees to return to Burundi. UNHCR is also concerned about the announcement of the upcoming closure of various Tanzanian camps. It believes that Burundian refugees still need international protection urgently in order to offer a secure and dignified life to those who have returned home.
Tanzanian government denies “forced repatriation process”
The spokesman for the Tanzanian government says Tanzania is conducting a sensitization campaign for voluntary repatriation of refugees, regardless of their countries of origin, provided that peace and security are restored in their respective countries. According to him, Burundians are not specifically targeted. Hassan Abbas denies any forced repatriation process undertaken by Tanzania. “If the government wants to close refugees’ camps, it will apply legal procedures that do not violate any convention on the protection of refugees.”
Civil society organizations in exile denounce repression against Burundi refugees
Fourteen Burundian civil society organizations in exile condemn the excessive and continual harassment against Burundian refugees in Tanzania. They claimed that there is insecurity in the camps and that Burundians refugees are subjected to repression and pressure. These organizations demand the Special Rapporteur on Refugees to send a fact-finding mission to conduct in-depth investigation on this continual harassment. They also call for a dialogue with the Tanzanian government in order to convince it to respect the conventions on the protection of refugees.
Burundian government: “No information on threats of “forced” repatriation
The government says it has no information on the threats of “forced” repatriation of Burundian refugees in Tanzania. According to Ntahiraja, assistant to the Minister of the Interior, the Burundian government has no right or authority to make decisions concerning Burundians staying in exile who are under the responsibility of UNHCR and the host country. “People who accuse the Burundi government of colluding with Tanzania are some political refugees who spread rumors to prevent others from returning to Burundi.” Terence Ntahiraja calls on all Burundian refugees to return home: “In the refugee camps, there is no life. Rights are very limited. ”
Repression in Rwanda
President Nkurunziza speaks of setting up a commission to draw up an inventory of the property of the repressed people that remained in Rwanda.
The administrative sources report over 3 thousand repressed people since the month of June. The Rwandan authorities say those people are in irregular situation and are not recognized and registered as refugees by UNHCR.
In addition, there was a pressure in Mahama camp last month following recent attacks in that country. On July 17, the Rwandan police stormed the camp for a surprise check and search operation. Hundreds of people without legal documents were taken away by the police.
In the wake of this, President Pierre Nkurunziza visited the commune of Vumbi in Kirundo province on July 30, with the objective of meeting the repressed people of Rwanda. He was accompanied by the Ministers of the Interior, Justice and Public Works.
The Head of State promised the urgent establishment of a commission to identify property or families that remained in Rwanda. This inventory will be sent to international organizations for the purpose of restitution.
Pierre Nkurunziza instead, applauded the good cooperation with the DRC and Tanzania in the process of repatriation of Burundian refugees in their countries.
The latest UNHCR report of 31 May 2018 spoke of over 396,000 Burundian refugees. Most of them were mainly established in Tanzania, Rwanda and the DRC. This UN organization is currently facing financial difficulties. It speaks of a need of over USD 391 million to help those Burundians in exile who are “completely forgotten”.
Geneva Convention Relating to Status of Refugees on expulsion and ban of expulsion and refoulement
1. The contracting states shall not expel a refugee lawfully in their territory saves on grounds of national security or public order.
2. The expulsion of such a refugee shall be only in pursuance of a decision reached in accordance with due process of law. The refugee shall be allowed to submit evidence to clear himself/herself, and to appeal to and be represented for the purpose before competent authority or a person or persons specially designated by the competent authority.
3. The contracting states shall allow such a refugee a reasonable period within which to seek legal admission into another country.Article 33 of Geneva Convention on refugees status stipulates that no contracting state shall expel or return a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his/her life or freedom would be threatened on account of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion..
The benefit of the present provision may not, however, be claimed by a refugee whom there are reasonable grounds for regarding as a danger to the security of the country in which he/she is, or who, having been convicted by a final judgment of a particularly serious crime, constitutes a danger to the community of that country.
Analysis
Abandoned people
Regarding the refugee issue, Tanzania is playing a political game. Tanzania which is supposed to host the upcoming session of the inter-Burundian dialogue – supposed to be the last -, wishes the return of all refugees before the last chance peace talks take place. One wonders how it can claim the end of hostilities with so many refugees on its territory.
Tanzanian rhetoric is surprisingly similar to Bujumbura one: Burundi is a safe and peaceful country. There is no longer any reason for refugees to stay in Tanzania. The urgent appeals of the Tanzanian authorities to return threaten Burundian refugees.
In the north, the situation is hardly better for refugees. Rwanda, which has to deal with incursions of a rebel movement on its territory, is very strict. Rwandan president Paul Kagame has always bet on a safe and stable country. He wants to attract investors and develop his economy. The Rwandan police neglect nothing and sift Mahama camp. Rumors spread about infiltrations of rebels.
Rwanda is strict with undocumented people. They are expelled from the camp and sent back to Burundi.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has issued an alert on the situation of Burundian refugees, those “abandoned by the international community.”
The organization mentions the lack of funding that does not allow Burundi’s neighboring countries to provide acceptable forms of assistance to refugees.
Until May, UNHCR had 9% of the funds needed to help them in 2018.
This situation affects refugees. UNHCR denounces a threat of famine inside the camps. It also confirms the chronic malnutrition, increased mortality among the sick and low school attendance in the camps. It paints the black picture of the situation
IWACU Open Data
