Tanzania gives 200,000 Burundi refugees ultimatum to return home, or else…

The government of Tanzania has given no less than 200,000 Burundi refugees until the 1st of October to go back home, otherwise they’ll be forced to leave the country.

The ultimatum was issued by the Tanzanian Interior Minister, Kangi Lugola who said the refugees can now return home as there is now peace in Burundi.

“Now there is peace in Burundi, so refugees have until the 1 October to repatriate. After that we will send them back whether they want to or not,” Kangi Lugola said.

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However, one refugee, who requested anonymity, told the BBC that he did not feel safe to return:

The refugee said: “It’s very unfortunate, what have the international community or Tanzania done to stop Nkurunziza’s government from persecuting people? There are killings, abductions and dead bodies found later. They are pushing us back to be killed.”

The Burundians had fled political unrest in 2015 amid protests over President Pierre Nkurunziza’s ultimately successful third-term bid and a subsequent failed coup.

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