CDH-VICAR Calls for Investigation into the Death of a Refugee in Nduta Camp

CDH/VICAR has documented the death of a Burundian refugee identified as Adairin, whose body was discovered on August 28, 2025, near Zone 5 of Nduta refugee camp in Tanzania. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear and have raised serious concern within the refugee community. Adairin was a married man and the father of four children, leaving behind a family now facing grief, uncertainty, and fear.

According to testimonies collected by CDH/VICAR, refugees suspect that Adairin may have been killed rather than having died of natural causes. Community members report that no clear explanation has been provided by camp authorities regarding how or when he died, nor have they been informed of any official investigation. This lack of transparency has fueled anxiety among refugees who already live under heightened insecurity.

This incident occurs in a broader context marked by increasing reports of intimidation, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and deteriorating protection conditions in Tanzanian refugee camps. Refugees fear that unexplained deaths may become normalized if they are not promptly and independently investigated. The absence of accountability deepens mistrust and undermines the fundamental obligation to ensure safety within refugee settlements.

CDH/VICAR calls on Tanzanian authorities and UNHCR to immediately open a thorough, independent, and transparent investigation to determine the cause of Adairin’s death. The organization urges that the findings be shared with the family and the refugee community. CDH/VICAR reiterates that the right to life and security is non-negotiable and that justice for victims is essential to preserving human dignity and protection in refugee camps.