Dozens of young Burundians seeking work in Tanzania have been expelled in recent months, with reports of arrests, beatings, and imprisonment before deportation. Many of the returnees, often in traumatized conditions, are taken in by families in Mabanda, southern Burundi.
Habimana Domatien, a 23-year-old from Kayanza in northern Burundi, recounted his experience in Tanzania’s Kasulu Prison. He described being surrounded, detained, and subjected to severe mistreatment, including beatings and slaps.
Host families in Burundi have called on Tanzanian authorities to end the mistreatment of migrants. “Some return traumatized and depressed,” said Olive Sindayihebura, a representative of these families, urging humane treatment for Burundians seeking opportunities in Tanzania.
The National Federation of Associations for Children’s Welfare in Burundi (FENADEB) reported nearly 300 expulsions between July and September 2024, including 149 forcibly removed and 182 returning voluntarily. Many of the migrants are driven by poverty, with NGOs attributing the crisis partly to human trafficking networks operated by both Burundians and Tanzanians.
FENADEB’s spokesperson, Ferdinand Simbaruhije, emphasized the urgent need to address the poverty and trafficking issues compelling young Burundians to migrate in search of livelihoods. The ongoing expulsions have sparked calls for regional cooperation to protect vulnerable youth and curb exploitation.