The first group of Burundian refugees are set to arrive back in the country from Tanzania on Thursday, according to the government in Bujumbura.
Reuters news agency reports Nestor Bimenyimana, the Burundi government’s general manager for repatriation, to say that the first batch of refugees includes some 1,000 people who had fled the country due to war.
Bimenyimana said the refugees’ agreed to return voluntarily.
The Burundi government has often said the security situation in the country is back under control following incidents of violence that arose ahead of the presidential election in 2015.
The violence was sparked by a declaration by President Pierre Nkurunziza that he would run for a third term, one which he went on to win in the July poll.
The country’s opposition accused President Nkurunziza of going against the constitution by running for a third term, then rallied their supporters to the streets.
According to the Human Rights Watch, more than 400,000 Burundians fled to neighbouring countries including Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Tanzania and Burundi signed the agreement on August 24 to facilitate the return of the refugees, a move Bujumbura says demonstrates a return to peace, calm, confidence, and the stability of the country.
Tanzania hosts some 183,000 Burundian refugees.
The repatriation of refugees comes ahead of a presidential election in Burundi scheduled for 2020, which the government has pledged will be free and fair.
While addressing the United Nations General Assembly last month, Burundi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ezechiel Nibigira said there is an increasingly favourable climate for free, transparent and calm election.
