Burundi nationals back home after persuasive government efforts

EASTERN PROVINCE BUGESERA—The 58 Burundi nationals who had recently crossed to Rwanda and settled in Rweru sector, allegedly fleeing insecurity in their country, have been repatriated in the capital Bujumbura. Sector executive secretary Julius Rukundo accompanied the group aboard a fuso-truck hired by the district up to the Burundian boarder of Gasenyi 1, where they were officially handed over to the leader of Busoni commune in Burundi’s Kirundu province Oswald Rugengamanzi. Most have now returned further into the country, including the capital Bujumbura. “They were at first not willing to go but later succumbed to our persuasive efforts. We officially handed them over to their mayor [Rugengamanzi],” Rukundo said on phone. The group, mostly women and children from Gatete-Busoni in Kirundu province entered Rwanda in several batches from November 2 and were temporarily resettled at Nyiragisekye primary school in Rweru sector. The repatriation was largely the outcome of an earlier meeting held with provincial governor Oscar Ruvuna on November 8, in which the governor, after listening to their grudges, asked them to return with reassurance to contain the situation. Ends