Sixth Burundian Refugee Kidnapped in Nduta Camp, Tanzania

CDH/VICAR reports a troubling escalation in the forced disappearances of Burundian refugees in Nduta camp, Tanzania. On the night of April 3–4, 2025, a refugee named Ndegeya Ismaël was abducted from his home in Zone 8, Village 20. Perpetrators, dressed in civilian clothing and traveling in a van associated with Tanzanian intelligence agents, blindfolded him and forcibly removed him from the camp.

This incident marks the sixth kidnapping within a single week, highlighting a pattern of targeted abductions against Burundian refugees. Families in the camp remain in a state of fear and uncertainty, with no information provided about the whereabouts or condition of the abducted individuals. These operations are reportedly coordinated by intelligence agents and appear to be part of a systematic effort to intimidate and coerce refugees.

Such kidnappings are often followed by the transfer of refugees to Burundian intelligence authorities, where victims frequently vanish without a trace, further deepening the climate of terror. The repeated nature of these operations underscores the urgent need for accountability and protective measures within the camps.

CDH/VICAR calls on Tanzanian authorities, the UNHCR, and international human rights bodies to intervene immediately. Refugees must be protected, abducted individuals must be located and returned safely, and perpetrators held accountable. Silence or inaction only perpetuates human rights violations and threatens the safety of all refugees in Nduta camp.