A group of 96 Burundian refugees returned to their home country after 9 years in Rwanda.
This action took place on the afternoon of Wednesday, 21st February, at Nemba Border, Bugesera, between Rwanda and Burundi.
Those who returned to their motherland include 34 families who lived in Mahama Refugee Camp, those who live in Nyamata in Bugesera District, and others in Kigali City.
These refugees returned to their homes during difficult times, after Burundi decided to close the border with Rwanda. UNHCR Rwanda says it has discussed with UNHCR Burundi, and the refugees are also being welcomed on the Burundi side.
The refugees, mostly those who fled to Rwanda in 2015 during political instability in their country, made Rwanda host about 60,000 Burundian refugees. However, in 2019, they began to return to their motherland voluntarily.
Currently, Mahama Refugee Camp accommodates over 40,000 Burundian refugees and over 20,000 Congolese refugees. The camp also houses 29 refugees from other countries such as Sudan and Yemen.