On the morning of May 26, 2026, CDH/VICAR documented and monitored a violent operation carried out in Zone 12 of the Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania. According to testimonies collected from refugees and local sources, Tanzanian police officers, accompanied by members of the WANAMUGAMBO, youth affiliated with the ruling CCM party, forcibly entered areas where Burundian refugees had been sheltering after the destruction of their homes.
During the operation, refugees who were still asleep were reportedly awakened and violently expelled from the small makeshift shelters they had built to protect themselves from rain and harsh weather conditions. These temporary shelters had been constructed after earlier demolition campaigns left many refugee families homeless and living in extremely precarious humanitarian conditions.
CDH/VICAR noted that these actions appear to be linked to ongoing pressure aimed at forcing refugees to register for repatriation to Burundi. Many affected refugees reportedly fear returning due to persistent concerns related to security, political persecution, and the broader human rights situation in Burundi. Vulnerable groups, including women, children, and elderly persons, remain among the most affected by these operations.
Through this activity, CDH/VICAR calls on Tanzanian authorities, UNHCR, and the international community to urgently intervene to protect Burundian refugees and ensure full respect for international refugee law, particularly the principles of voluntary repatriation, human dignity, and non-refoulement. The organization reiterates that no refugee should be subjected to violence, intimidation, or coercion in the context of repatriation processes. States must uphold their commitments.
