Urgent Warning on Disappearances in Nduta and Nyarugusu

CDH/VICAR has taken decisive action following a disturbing escalation of enforced disappearances targeting Burundian refugees in the Nduta and Nyarugusu camps. On September 16, 2025, the coalition formally submitted an alert letter to Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The letter was simultaneously transmitted to Tanzanian authorities, regional institutions, and Western diplomatic missions. It documents a pattern of nighttime abductions carried out inside the camps, demonstrating a growing climate of fear and insecurity among displaced families.

In its correspondence, CDH/VICAR highlighted several emblematic cases, including the disappearance of Ndegeya Sumaïli, a father of 13; Onyango Isaac, a member of the FNL and staff member with MSF; Kwizera Emile, an employee of World Vision; Manirakiza Nestor, a FRODEBU activist; and Nduwimana Diomède. According to multiple witnesses and family testimonies, all these individuals were arrested by Tanzanian intelligence agents operating in unmarked Toyota Hilux vehicles with tinted windows. Since their removal, none of the families have received information regarding the victims’ whereabouts or physical condition.

The coalition underscored the profound distress in which these families now live. Deprived of answers, they face uncertainty, trauma, and a complete absence of legal recourse. CDH/VICAR urged UNHCR to intervene immediately, insisting that the missing refugees be released alive. Should the worst have occurred, the coalition demanded that families be informed and afforded the dignity of mourning. The letter also emphasized the political implications of these abductions, noting that several victims were targeted after denouncing forced repatriations or exposing abuses perpetrated in the camps.

Beyond notifying UNHCR, CDH/VICAR escalated the alert to multiple high-level bodies, including the President of Tanzania, the East African Community, the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the EU Delegation, and the embassies of the United States, Canada, and Germany. Recalling similar arrests in 2020—when released survivors reported torture and degrading treatment—CDH/VICAR called for transparency, accountability, and the immediate protection of refugees’ fundamental rights. The coalition closed its appeal with a clear message: refugees demand truth, justice, and respect for their human dignity.