The UNHCR has said the repatriation of Burundian refugees living in Rwanda should be voluntary according to international principles, though the Burundian government wants the refugees to return home.
“We have to respect the voluntary aspect of the repatriation of refugees. This is an international principle,” said UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Volker Turk on Thursday, after visiting a transit site for asylum seekers at Cishemere in Cibitoke province, 40 km west of the Burundian capital Bujumbura.
Turk was reacting to a complaint from Burundian government that Rwanda is not allowing the refugees to return home.
“We want all refugees to come back home. They are mainly in Tanzania, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), in Rwanda and in Uganda. But Rwanda is not allowing Burundian refugees to return home,” said Burundian Home Affairs and Civic Education Minister Pascal Barandagiye.
According to him, even refugees voluntarily planning to return home must “hide” themselves to be able to leave the Rwandan territory.
Relations between Rwanda and Burundi have deteriorated since Burundi accuses Rwanda of hosting and supporting perpetrators of the May 13, 2015 coup attempt against President Pierre Nkurunziza.
Burundi has been in turmoil since April 2015 following Nkurunziza’s declaration that he would vie for a controversial third term in office, one that he went on to win in the July poll.
