The government of Rwanda on Tuesday, November 25, facilitated the voluntary repatriation of 115 Burundian refugees from 58 households, as part of an ongoing bilateral campaign encouraging Burundians to return home. Most of the returnees had fled to Rwanda in 2015 at the height of Burundi’s political crisis. As they prepared to cross back into their country on Tuesday through Nemba Border Post in Bugesera District, many expressed gratitude for the humane treatment and protection they received throughout their stay. UPDATE: #Rwanda has facilitated the voluntary repatriation of 58 Burundian refugee households, with 115 individuals. Since August 27, 2020, a total of 30,907 Burundian refugees have returned home. #Rwanda continues to host 52,862 others, with 42,421 living in Mahama Camp and... pic.twitter.com/nRpSToLu9a — The New Times (Rwanda) (@NewTimesRwanda) November 25, 2025 Among those repatriated were seven urban refugees from Kigali, while the remaining ones had been residing at Mahama Refugee Camp in Kirehe District. The return operation was supported by the government of Rwanda, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). ALSO READ: Rwanda reassures voluntary repatriation of Burundi refugees Oscar Niyonkuru, a former combatant who fled Burundi after fighting alongside opposition leader Agathon Rwasa, spent a decade in Rwanda working as a construction labourer in Kigali. He praised the country’s safety and the equal treatment refugees received. “I arrived in Rwanda ten years ago after the situation back home turned against us,” Niyonkuru said. “Rwanda received us with dignity. I cannot claim to have faced any particular challenge as a refugee. One thing I truly appreciated was the security that allowed us to live freely and rebuild our lives just like any Rwandan.” He added that relationships between Burundians and Rwandans in Kigali were warm and supportive. “I related well with Rwandans. Whenever I needed help like on days when I had not earned anything, I would turn to my Rwandan or Burundian colleagues without hesitation, and they could also count on me when they needed support.” ALSO READ: How a Burundian refugee turned Rwf800 into a million-franc agribusiness Niyonkuru chose to return home to reunite with his wife and four children, whom he has not seen for a decade. “My siblings assured me that the security situation is calm, so I decided to go back to my family,” he said. “We have been talking all these years but never seeing each other. I will either continue the work I was doing in Kigali or try something new as I begin life again.” ALSO READ: Burundian refugees urged to repatriate voluntarily Aziz Bamuhorubusa, who fled Burundi with two children, returned with five, three of whom were born in Rwanda. She said government sensitisation campaigns encouraged her to make the decision to return. “I am going back home with my five children after hearing the announcements encouraging us to return voluntarily,” she said. “Rwanda treated us fairly and with dignity. Our rights as refugees were respected, and we were never subjected to any form of violence. I am returning home healthy.” Bamuhorubusa hopes to revive her small-scale business once back in Burundi, adding that she looks forward to maintaining the friendships she formed in Rwanda. “When the borders are open, we shall visit our Rwandan friends who were kind to us and became part of our lives.” ALSO READ: Burundian refugees petition to return home For Sandrine Abanyana, who arrived in Rwanda as an unmarried young woman, she returns with three children born in Rwanda and praised the health services she received, particularly during childbirth. “My oldest is in Primary Three, the second in Primary One, and the youngest is yet to start school,” she said. “They studied through the support of the government and UNHCR. What I will miss most is the care and quality of health services during delivery. I encountered no issues, and all my children were born safely.” She hopes for a smooth transition back home as her husband who remained in Rwanda plans to join them soon. ALSO READ: Burundian refugees optimistic about the future Since August 2020, a total of 30,907 Burundian refugees have voluntarily returned home from Rwanda. The country continues to host 52,862 Burundian refugees, including 42,421 at Mahama Camp, with the remainder living in urban areas. According to Gonzague Karagire, Project Manager at the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA), the repatriation strictly adheres to international refugee protection norms. “They registered for voluntary return following the campaigns, and we carried out the necessary preparations,” Karagire said. “Since 2020, Rwanda has worked closely with the Burundian government and UNHCR to ensure a safe, dignified, and orderly return. Issues related to their reintegration, assistance, and security are all addressed within this framework.”
