Rwanda has facilitated the voluntary return of 74 Burundian refugees, comprising 47 families, to their home country, the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA) reported.
The returnees, who left on Thursday, March 12, 2036, included residents of the Mahama Refugee Camp and others from Kigali. Before crossing the Nemba border in Bugesera District, they expressed gratitude for Rwanda’s support, noting they were treated well and received assistance similar to Rwandan citizens.
Mahama Camp has hosted Burundian refugees since 2015, when an attempted coup against former President Pierre Nkurunziza triggered widespread unrest, forcing thousands to flee.
Since 2020, MINEMA says, 31,096 Burundian refugees have voluntarily returned home, leaving 53,209 still residing in Rwanda.
