NAIROBI: Tanzania has reiterated that voluntary repatriation remains the preferred long-term solution for tens of thousands of Burundian refugees on its territory, saying conditions in Burundi are now stable enough to support returns.
Speaking at a regional conference on durable solutions for Burundian refugees in Nairobi on Wednesday, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Ayoub Mohammed Mahmoud said improved security in Burundi should encourage refugees to return and take part in rebuilding their country.
He said returns must be guided by “freedom, unity and self-reliance”, while acknowledging growing strain on humanitarian resources supporting refugees in host countries.
International funding shortfalls have affected the delivery of basic services, including healthcare and education, in refugee camps, Mahmoud added.
Tanzania hosts nearly 239,000 refugees, according to government figures, including more than 152,000 from Burundi and over 86,000 from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mahmoud said Tanzania would continue to meet its international obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1969 Organisation of African Unity convention, stressing that any repatriation must be voluntary, safe and conducted with dignity.
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He called on the international community, particularly the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to increase support for Burundi to ease the reintegration of returnees.
“Tanzania remains committed to implementing voluntary repatriation in line with the Tripartite Agreement with Burundi and UNHCR,” he said, referring to a framework that governs the return process.
Under agreements reached at a tripartite commission meeting in November 2025, authorities aim to facilitate the return of up to 3,000 refugees per week.
Tanzania said it would continue working with Burundi, UNHCR and other partners to ensure returns are carried out safely and in accordance with international standards.
Most Burundian refugees in Tanzania fled periods of political unrest and insecurity in their home country over the past decade.