Hundreds of refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo have begun returning home from the Busuma camp in Burundi, as a voluntary repatriation exercise got underway on Thursday. The operation, taking place in Buhumuza province, saw families packing their belongings early in the morning and preparing for departure after months of displacement.
The repatriation effort is being coordinated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which emphasised that returns are strictly voluntary and limited to individuals heading to relatively secure areas. Officials say the process is designed to ensure that refugees are not exposed to further risk amid ongoing instability in parts of eastern Congo.
For many refugees, the return marks a long-awaited opportunity to reunite with their homeland after enduring difficult living conditions in the camp. Antoine Gashindi, one of those departing, described the situation in Busuma as dire, citing disease outbreaks, deaths among residents, and limited access to food and clean water. He expressed relief at the prospect of returning home, saying he deeply missed his country.
Busuma, Burundi’s largest refugee camp for Congolese nationals, hosts more than 66,000 people, most of whom fled the town of Uvira following its capture by M23 rebels in December. The influx is part of a broader humanitarian crisis that has displaced millions across eastern Congo.
Despite the departures, humanitarian officials caution that not all refugees are eligible to return. According to UNHCR representative Brigitte Mukanga-Eno, only those who feel safe and are able to return to secure locations are being considered for repatriation.
The crisis in eastern Congo has displaced more than eight million people, with over one million seeking refuge in neighbouring countries across Africa. Burundi alone is hosting approximately 100,000 Congolese refugees, underscoring the scale of the regional displacement challenge.
Melissa Enoch
