KIGALI, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- At least 96 Burundian refugees, many of whom fled to Rwanda in 2015 due to political instability, were repatriated to their home country Wednesday, said authorities.
The group includes 78 individuals from Mahama Refugee Camp in eastern Rwanda's Kirehe District, and others from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, camp leader Andres Vuganeza told reporters.
They were handed to Burundian authorities at the Rwanda-Burundi border at Nemba.
Those repatriated voluntarily chose to return to Burundi, Vuganeza said.
Burundi closed its border with Rwanda in January, saying it was a response to Rwanda's alleged support for its Red Tabara rebel group, blamed for December's attack in which 20 people were killed along Burundi's western border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Vuganeza, however, said the border closure did not affect the repatriation.
Emmanuel Nzeyimana, one of the returning refugees, told reporters that he decided to return home after being assured of his security by the relatives he inquired from.
The repatriation was facilitated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Mahama camp hosts more than 60,000 refugees, including more than 40,000 Burundians. Since 2020, exceedingly 30,000 Burundian refugees have been repatriated, according to the camp official. ■
