BUJUMBURA, February 18th (ABP) – The Minister of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security, Martin Nteretse issued, on Monday, February 17, 2025 in Bujumbura, a press release relating to people fleeing to Burundi from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In the press release, Minister Niteretse said that Burundi has already received some 10,000 people who fled from the DRC to Burundi via the official border of Gatumba, crossing the Rusizi River to go to the provinces of Bubanza and Cibitoke. According to the Minister in charge of public security, these people were registered from February 12 to February 16, 2025. He also indicated that these people fall into several categories. For this, he pointed that Burundi has taken the decision to gather them in the reception centers located in Gihanga (in Bubanza province) and Cishemeye in Cibitoke province to move on to identification, with a view to separating the military, civilians, the sick, children and pregnant women to continue to assist them separately.
The Minister responsible for public security added that Burundi is collaborating with the United Nations system, through the UNHCR (High Commission for Refugees), so that the challenges that arise at the moment in the reception of these people are properly resolved, given that this situation is unpredictable.
He took the opportunity to inform the public that a routine activity, by the national police, on irregularities is underway. He specified that during this operation, 80 people who do not have the necessary documents to live in the country were returned to their countries of origin.