The Tanzanian government has urged the United Nations refugee agency to quickly repatriate thousands of refugees who it says want to return home.
The country’s Home Affairs minister Mwigulu Nchemba on Friday said that over 8,000 refugees are “pushing to be returned” after they registered for voluntary repatriation.
The UNHCR in Tanzania has however not responded.
In July, Tanzanian President John Magufuli suspended the registration and naturalization of thousands of Burundian refugees.
More than 240,000 Burundians sought refuge in Tanzania following the eruption of a deadly political violence in their country.
Earlier this year, President Pierre Nkurunziza urged Burundian refugees to return home, saying the country was now peaceful.
Burundi descended into violence in April 2015 following President Nkurunziza’s declaration that he would seek a controversial third mandate, one that he went on to win in the July election.
Protests erupted with the opposition saying the move was unconstitutional, soon turning violent.
The conflict killed hundreds and forced thousands to flee their homes.
