Why Burundians continue to flee

[Elisabeth Janaina]

Why Burundians continue to flee
By Thijs Van Laer
August 24, 2017
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Despite government claims that Burundi is safe, refugees say they will
only consider returning under three conditions.
Burundian refugees at a camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
MONUSCO / Abel Kavanagh.

Burundian refugees at a camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
MONUSCO / Abel Kavanagh.

On 20 July, President Pierre Nkurunziza left Burundi for the first
time since his 2015 bid for a third presidential term plunged the
country into crisis. On his visit to Tanzania, he urged Burundian
refugees to come home, insisting the country is now at peace.

Despite Nkurunziza’s reassurances, however, Burundians continue to
flee the country. Since April 2015, hundreds of people have been
killed and more than 415,000 have crossed the borders. Most have ended
up in Tanzania, which hosts more than 250,000 refugees, while others
have sought asylum in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
and Uganda.

While there is less open violence now, new arrivals seem to outnumber
those returning to Burundi. Those who flee tend to cite repression and
violence as the primary reasons.

Henri*, 27, arrived in Uganda this April. “I left Burundi because of
the security situation,”, he told International Refugee Rights
Initiative (IRRI). “I was apolitical, but the Imbonerakure [the youth
wing of the ruling party] forced me to become a member of the [ruling]
CNDD-FDD. Some of my friends were arrested and killed when they
refused to join.”

Others explain that not being a member of the CNDD-FDD is considered a
“sin” or “crime” and often triggers abuses. IRRI recorded terrible
stories of torture and rape by the Imbonerakure and of disappearances
and executions of refugees’ family members.

This youth militia reportedly controls public life in the countryside
and terrorises members of the opposition as well as those considered
too critical or who refuse to join the party. Police and intelligence
officers allegedly take part in such abuses or, at a minimum, turn a
blind eye.

“The Imbonerakure are stronger than the police,” said Henri. “They can
lock you up and torture you.”

Contrary to the government’s claims, testimony collected by IRRI and
other organisations such as the UN suggests that Burundi continues to
face systemic human rights violations. This includes executions,
enforced disappearances, sexual violence and torture.

The political crisis has also had economic consequences such as
soaring unemployment and inflation. “Life has become worse. We don’t
have money to buy what our family needs. It is difficult to continue
living,” said Paul, a 22-year-old farmer. However, economic pushes to
leave Burundi always accompanied fears over security and abuses.