In Geneva, Tanzania raised its tone in response to the slow pace of repatriation of Burundian refugees, leaving hanging the threat of a radical measure: the cessation of refugee status. The host country believes that peace and stability have been restored in Burundi. (Le Mandat)
Speaking at the 76th session of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Tanzanian representative declared that his government could activate the cessation clause if repatriation efforts do not bring concrete results. “We will invoke cessation for Burundian refugees in Tanzania if we are not satisfied with the impact of the promotion of voluntary repatriation,” he said, specifying that only 1,640 Burundians have returned home over the past eight months.
Tanzania currently hosts more than 150,000 Burundian refugees, most of whom have been settled since the political crisis of 2015. The authorities plan to detail the arrangements of the proposed measure next November during a tripartite meeting with Burundi and the UNHCR.
For his part, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, called on Tanzania to prioritize dialogue within the framework of the tripartite consultations. He also invited the Burundian government to redouble its efforts to convince its citizens in exile to return to the country.
