By Arsene Arakaza
The Burundian delegation visited Kampala, the capital of Uganda, on Monday to educate Burundian refugees on mass voluntary repatriation. The representatives of the refugees who took part in this meeting denounced the action as disingenuous, propagandist, and unrealistic, arguing that the refugees from Burundi are unable to return because of the grave political and security conditions that still exist in their country.
The meeting which was convened in the office of the Norwegian Refugees Council in Kabusu was attended by a Burundian government delegation, which included six emissaries namely: the Ambassador of Burundi to Uganda, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Internal affairs, Security and Communal Development, the General Director in charge of the repatriation of refugees, the Director of the Burundian refugee repatriation department within the Ministry of the Internal affairs, the Governors of Muyinga and Mwaro Provinces were already in Kampala. On the other side, about thirty representatives of Burundian refugees as well as the representatives of the Office of the Prime Minister of Uganda – Department of Refugees and the UN Refugee Agency in Uganda (UNHCR-Uganda)
The government of Uganda welcomed the Burundian delegation, Jean Paul Magezi who represented the Office of the Ugandan Prime Minister’s emphasis on Uganda’s policies toward refugees. Shortly after the representative of the Uganda government, the Ambassador of Burundi in Uganda, and the Head of the Burundian delegation briefly presented the objective of their mission.
“We came here with a message from the President of the Republic of Burundi who wants you to return to the country. Our objective is not to force you to return, it is rather to engage in a discussion with you to show you that peace reigns in all the provinces of Burundi, Burundians are freely involved in development activities. The country really needs you. We are not here to lie, I know that you have friends, relatives in the country who can tell you the same reality ” hammered Carinie Ndabarushimana; Head of the delegation.
The remark of the delegation’s leader was confirmed by Nestor Bimenyimana, the general director of repatriation for the Burundian government, who also emphasized the recipients’ warm welcome and close monitoring and motivation of the refugees of will voluntarily accept repatriation.
“The government of Burundi has put in place all the favourable mechanisms to welcome returnees. We give 200 dollars as an accompaniment fee and a transit centre hosted in the province of Muyinga is already operational to receive refugees coming from Uganda. There is the necessary equipment. After two days, we make it easier for returnees to return home while also facilitating their integration into their pre-exile work,” said Nestor Bimenyimana, looking relaxed.
“The majority of you are afraid to return following false information. If there is anyone here from Muyinga province, I will reassure you that he will not encounter any security problems in my province once repatriated. I tell you, he will also be restored to his property,” said Jean Claude Barutwanayo, Governor of Muyinga
“Security is guaranteed, come and see for yourself. You can come back here to testify. The “Go and See” program is already planned by the government of Burundi in collaboration with the Ugandan government and UNHCR”. Someone who will come will circulate in all the provinces to see the appeasement that reigns there. ” Tried to convince Colonel Gaspard Gasanze, Governor of Mwaro Province, who is also a part of the delegation
The speeches of the Burundian delegation were reacted to by yells of mocking from the refugees who were present in the meeting. The conversation between the Burundian delegation and the refugee leaders was cordial, though, the audience members didn’t hold back when they expressed their outrage at certain speeches that they thought were fantastical and unrealistic. They were screaming every time they heard a term that “shocked” them and members of the delegation then chose to employ strategically diplomatic language to calm the situation.
A speech made at the meeting by refugees and leaders of the civic society demoralized the Burundi delegation. After a moment of silence in honour of those who lost their lives as a result of CNDD-FDD Power abuses in Burundi, Damien Nyabenda, a representative of Burundian refugees in Uganda and the leader of the delegation of Burundian refugee leaders present at the meeting, began his address. The remarks of the Burundian delegation, which sang about peace and progress in Burundi, were challenged by this refugee leader with evidence. He cited reports from civil society organizations about ongoing human rights violations.
“Here is the list of Burundians who went missing during President Ndayishimiye’s rule and you are telling us to go back? We know of returnees killed and people who have returned to exile and you boast of peace here! So how do you expect us to come under these conditions? Ensure the safety first of all Burundians, improve living conditions, respect the rights of Burundians, you will feel after that you do not need to sensitize someone to return to his home,” said Damien Nyabenda
According to this refugee leader, it is extremely worrying and grave that the Burundian government through its Embassy in Uganda seems to be engaged in disrupting the security of Burundian refugees in Uganda and has alerted the Ugandan government to strengthen the security of Burundian refugees while giving a document that shows evidence and details of cases of people killed, tortured and beaten in mysterious circumstances.
“We know of a car from the Embassy of Burundi in Uganda, used by a Burundian police officer still on duty to manhandle and disturb the tranquillity of the refugees. The Embassy of Burundi here is really complicit, all the details are in this document. We want explanations! This Ambassador even gave the order to stop the refugees from drumming and even took our drums when she does not have the prerogatives, we are against this unjust interference and the refugees will continue playing the drums ” Damien pointed out nervously.
The document prepared by the representation of the refugees was transmitted to the Embassy of Burundi in Uganda, to the representatives of the Office of the Prime Minister and UNHCR-Uganda and the latter agreed to analyze this document and engage more collaboration to tackle this matter. . .
Anschaire Nikoyagize, in his speech to the delegation, showed the current reality of the human rights situation in Burundi. Carrying the message of Burundian civil society, this responsibility of the ‘’ Ligue Iteka ‘’, a Burundian Human rights Organization show how the agents of the police, of the National Intelligence Service, remain involved in human rights violations under total impunity.
“Burundian civil society has repeatedly asked and pleaded for respect of human rights but nothing has been done. It then becomes impossible to come back to Burundi in such conditions. I personally exchanged via a telephone call with the President, Evariste Ndayishimiye to show him the worrying situation of the violation of human rights but he, unfortunately, did not change the situation. I sent him reports from the ‘’ Ligue Iteka ‘’ via Watsaap Communication but no response on his firm commitment to stop the crimes. Sensitizing refugees to return without having changed those who pushed them to leave their country is a waste of time,” said Anschaire.
According to Anschaire Nikoyagize, credible and inclusive dialogue between opposition political parties, Burundian civil society and the media is the way to solve the Burundian crisis and to indicate that the refugees’ repatriation process will also be carefully studied.
‘’ Your government recently imprisoned human rights defenders and you want the refugees to return? Your speeches alone cannot reassure the refugees to return”
Proposing to the Head of the Burundian delegation to transmit the letter from Ligue Iteka to Burundian President, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of internal affairs publicly baulked, which shocked the leaders of the refugees.
“Anschaire, I cannot send this letter to the President, you must look for other channels,” replied the head of the delegation in a contracted mood.
All the speakers on the side of the refugees converged on the observation of the security and political situation which is far from reassuring the Burundian refugees to return.
“Madam, permanent secretary, you reassure us that everything is fine while you refuse to transmit the letter from Ligue Iteka to the Burundi President. It shows that you also live and work in fear. No real guarantee of security in Burundi ” underlined the Secretary General of the Refugee Community during his intervention
According to the Office of the Prime Minister – Department of Refugees, the Burundian delegation will continue its sensitization work on the voluntary repatriation of Burundian refugees hosted in the Nakivale, Kyaka and Rwamwanja camps in Uganda.
Under the late president Pierre Nkurunziza’s leadership, the crisis in Burundi erupted in 2015, killing thousands of people and uprooting about 500,000 people in neighbouring nations.
Significant violations of human rights, according to numerous reports, included extrajudicial killings committed by the government, as well as extralegal killings; forced disappearances committed by the government; torture; and instances of cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment committed by the government have created the fear among the people who sees themselves as a potential target of the government witch-hunt.
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