Tanzania has closed a camp for Burundian refugees and repatriated nearly all remaining residents, according to Misryoum.
Tanzania has moved to close a refugee camp that had held thousands of Burundian families, with repatriations reducing the population to only a small number left behind.
Misryoum reports that the closure comes after complaints from Burundian refugees about being moved out of the Nduta camp in northwestern Tanzania. The situation was tied to an arrangement between the governments in Dar es Salaam and Bujumbura aimed at returning around 100,000 people by June.
In late 2025, Misryoum notes that the UN refugee agency estimated 142,000 Burundian refugees were still housed in two Tanzanian camps, Nduta and Nyarugusu. Most had fled years of civil conflict, political repression and widespread poverty in Burundi.
A human rights group said that the remaining residents at Nduta were transported for return, describing the last stage of departures as forced loading onto vehicles. It also said only a limited number of families were left on site before transfer to Nyarugusu.
The group further alleged that, in recent months, refugees at Nduta faced measures that restricted daily life and increased pressure to register for repatriation. It pointed to claims involving intimidation, arrests and people being taken away, as well as the gradual demolition of homes in the camp.
Insight: When camps close on a timeline set by governments, the difference between “voluntary” return and coerced departure can become the central issue for refugees and aid organizations alike.
Meanwhile, Tanzanian authorities are scheduled to close Nyarugusu on June 30, according to Misryoum. The group said that, for Nduta, these conditions escalated into a sudden wave of departures that ended with the camp’s full closure.
Misryoum also reports that the same rights group criticized the UN refugee agency for working in a way it felt did not match its protection mandate. In response, the UN agency said the camp was closed by the Tanzanian government and cited an agreement focused on voluntary repatriation.
The UN agency said it has repeatedly raised concerns with authorities when reports of pressure or abuse appear, emphasizing that returns should be voluntary, safe and dignified. Misryoum adds that a separate UNHCR official confirmed the repatriations while declining to address allegations directly.
Insight: For host countries and international agencies, camp closures can quickly shift from logistics to accountability, shaping trust for future protections and returns.