On the morning of 30 December 2025, the Burundian refugee camp of Nyarugusu in Tanzania witnessed a new and alarming escalation. As previously announced, members of the Sungusungu, acting under the orders of representatives of the Tanzanian authorities, began demolishing refugee shelters, starting in Zone 13. These actions have left families exposed, displaced within the camp, and deeply traumatized.
According to testimonies gathered by CDH/VICAR, the demolitions are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of pressure aimed at forcing Burundian refugees to abandon their homes. Refugees report that these operations are intended to compel them to register for return to Burundi, despite persistent insecurity and ongoing human rights violations in their country of origin.
Such practices constitute a serious violation of international refugee law, including the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits coercion, intimidation, or indirect pressure to force refugees to return. Destroying shelters—the last line of protection for displaced families—undermines human dignity, endangers lives, and strips refugees of their right to safe and humane living conditions.
CDH/VICAR strongly condemns these actions and calls on the Tanzanian government, UNHCR, and the international community to immediately halt demolitions, ensure the protection of refugees, and investigate those responsible. Refugees must not be subjected to collective punishment or coerced return. States must uphold their commitments to protect refugees in accordance with international law.
