The Coalition for the Defense of Human Rights of People Living in Refugee Camps (CDH/VICAR) raises the alarm over a new and dangerous escalation in the demolition of homes belonging to Burundian refugees in Tanzania. Since 27 February 2026, authorities have intensified operations in the Nduta Refugee Camp, deepening an already severe humanitarian crisis.
Credible reports indicate that the Tanzanian government has begun mobilizing youth volunteers affiliated with the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), commonly known as Wanamugambo, to accelerate the destruction of refugee shelters. This marks a troubling shift from administrative enforcement to politically mobilized action.
The involvement of party-affiliated youth in camp operations heightens fear and vulnerability among refugees. Families—many already displaced multiple times—are being stripped of their last means of shelter, exposing children, women, and the elderly to harsh weather and extreme insecurity.
These actions appear aimed at coercing refugees into registering for return, undermining the core principles of international refugee protection. When homes are destroyed and living conditions are deliberately degraded, any claim of “voluntary” return becomes indefensible.
CDH/VICAR condemns the use of political structures to carry out acts that violate refugees’ rights and dignity. We call for the immediate cessation of demolitions, the withdrawal of party-affiliated actors from refugee camps, and urgent international engagement to ensure protection, accountability, and respect for the principle of voluntary, safe, and dignified solutions. States must uphold their commitments.
