CDH-VICAR Monitors Trial of 34 Burundian Refugees in Kasulu Amid Fears of Punitive Repatriation

Appearances before the Kasulu court on Monday, 10 October 2025, involved 34 Burundian refugees, all facing accusations of insurrection. The charges stem from events on 29 April 2024, when Tanzanian police entered Zones 10 and 11 of the refugee settlements and carried out sweeping raids. Officers targeted households they believed were hiding goods, a practice tied to the longstanding ban preventing Burundian refugees in Tanzania from engaging in any income-generating activities. These operations provoked immediate outrage, prompting refugees to voice their frustration and protest the abuses.

During these protests, several individuals were arrested. Five remain in detention, while twenty-nine were released but still compelled to appear before the court. Testimonies gathered by CDH/VICAR from families and community members depict the situation as another instance of punitive enforcement and intimidation inside the camps. The decision to criminalize refugees for expressing grievances about police misconduct raises serious concerns regarding due process, proportionality, and the protection of their right to peaceful expression.

The unfolding judicial process has reignited fears that forced repatriation may be used as a punitive measure, a tactic already documented in past cases involving Burundian refugees in Tanzania. Historically, those accused—fairly or not—of protest, dissent, or non-compliance have frequently been threatened with inclusion on repatriation lists. With pressure on Burundian refugees intensifying across the region, these trials risk reinforcing a strategy aimed at silencing refugees and deterring them from reporting violations.

In fulfilling its protection-monitoring mandate, CDH/VICAR continues to follow the Kasulu proceedings and engage relevant stakeholders to safeguard refugee rights and ensure fair judicial treatment. The organization urges Tanzanian authorities to uphold due process, cease the use of repatriation as punishment, and respect their obligations under international refugee law. CDH/VICAR remains committed to documenting protection risks, advocating for accountability, and supporting refugees who face reprisals for exposing abuses.