The Government of Burundi has announced plans to relocate Congolese refugees who recently fled to the country, removing them from temporary camps and from host communities, and transferring them to refugee camps located far from the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This decision comes at a time when security continues to deteriorate in the Rusizi Valley, on the South Kivu side, where intense fighting has for days pitted various warring parties against one another.
According to Burundian authorities, more than 20,000 Congolese have fled to Burundi in recent weeks, escaping violence that erupted in Uvira and other areas near the border.
Some of the refugees were immediately settled in temporary camps hastily set up near the border, while others chose to live among host communities, particularly in the city of Bujumbura and its outskirts.
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On December 17, 2025, Burundi’s Minister of Public Security, Ndaruzaniye Leonidas, announced that Congolese refugees who are not staying in camps must leave their current locations immediately.
He stated that “these refugees must move to camps prepared by government authorities, in order to safeguard public security and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance.”
Minister Ndaruzaniye explained that in recent weeks, some refugees had been allowed to stay temporarily in camps located near the border, including Gatumba, Vugizo, Kansega, and Cishemere in Bujumbura Province, as well as Magara and Makombe in Burunga Province. However, he emphasized that these camps were not intended to host refugees on a long-term basis.
He said, “The Government of Burundi will subsequently remove them from there and transfer them to a refugee camp located far from where they came from, as required by international refugee law.”
He added that relocating refugees away from the border is intended to protect them from the effects of fighting that could spill across the border, and to prevent the security situation in the DRC from negatively affecting Burundi.
This decision follows growing concerns about border security, particularly after Burundi agreed to receive DRC government troops and other fighters who had fled into its territory.
These include soldiers from the FARDC, fighters from groups belonging to the Wazalendo coalition, as well as combatants from the FDLR, a group Burundi considers a terrorist organization. Altogether, these individuals are estimated to number around 2,000.
Security analysts say that hosting these troops and fighters has placed Burundi in a delicate diplomatic and security position, as it requires strict adherence to international laws governing weapons and refugees, and efforts to avoid being accused of involvement in a neighboring country’s conflict.
On the other hand, refugee and human rights organizations have expressed concern that the rapid relocation of refugees could leave them inadequately informed, lead to the separation of families, or expose them to harsh living conditions in new camps that may not be fully prepared.
Some Congolese refugees in Burundi have voiced fears that being moved far from the border could prevent them from following developments back home, or undermine their hope of returning once security is restored.
However, Burundian authorities maintain that the measure is intended to protect the refugees themselves and to make it easier for them to receive assistance from UNHCR and other partners in an organized and sustainable manner.
As fighting continues in parts of South Kivu, the refugee situation remains a major test for relations among countries in the region.
Analysts argue that lasting solutions must come from an end to hostilities, political dialogue, and regional cooperation, rather than focusing solely on managing the consequences of war.
For now, it remains unclear where exactly the refugees will be relocated and when the decision will be implemented, as citizens, international organizations, and human rights advocates closely watch Burundi to see whether the process will be carried out in accordance with international law and refugee rights.
