RUYIGI, April 23 (ABP) – The voluntary repatriation of Congolese refugees living in the Busuma camp, in Ruyigi commune, Buhumuza province, begins this Thursday, April 23.
This is part of an operation organized with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in collaboration with Burundian and Congolese authorities.
From the early hours of the morning, convoys are expected to transport the first groups of refugees to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Candidates for return, mainly from South Kivu, were previously registered and informed about the conditions of their return.
On Monday, April 20, the Burundian government and UNHCR announced, in a joint statement, the launch of this process, emphasizing its strictly voluntary nature. “The return is based on the free choice of each individual concerned,” the two parties specified, while stressing that no refugee will be forced to return to their country of origin.
Burundian authorities reaffirm their commitment to guaranteeing the security, protection, and respect of the fundamental rights of refugees on their territory. They also ensure the continuation of humanitarian assistance at reception sites, pending actual departures.
The National Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (ONPRA), in coordination with UNHCR, recalls that prior registration is essential to benefit from the program. Special attention is given to households with schoolchildren, people with specific needs, as well as certain public officials.
In this first phase, only certain territories of South Kivu are concerned, notably Uvira, the Uvira-Baraka axis, the territory of Fizi, Mboko, and the Ruzizi Plain, identified as priority return areas.
On the ground, the atmosphere is marked by a mix of hope and uncertainty. Families are preparing their personal belongings, ready to leave the camp after several years in exile. “We are returning because it is our home, but we hope that peace will last,” said a refugee interviewed on site.
Organizers specify that returnees benefit from support including transportation, administrative assistance, and reintegration aid.
The Busuma camp, which has hosted more than 65,000 Congolese refugees, could thus see its population gradually decrease in line with the departures planned in the coming days, in a still fragile security context in eastern DRC.
Among the local population of Ruyigi, especially those from Busuma village and Kayongozi zone, opinions are divided. Some residents welcome this repatriation, believing it could reduce pressure on local resources, particularly farmland, social services, and the environment. “We have shared the little we have over the past three months. If they return home under good conditions, it is a good thing,” said a resident of Rutegama village.
Others, however, express concern about the consequences of this departure, particularly on social relations and economic activities developed around the camp. “There were commercial exchanges with the refugees,” said a bar owner in Busuma. “Their departure will also affect our small incomes,” confided a local trader.