Burundian refugees to be repatriated board a bus at the Nemba-Gasenyi border post between Rwanda and Burundi, on Nov. 25, 2025. A total of 115 Burundian refugees, many of whom fled to Rwanda in 2015 due to political instability, have been voluntarily repatriated to their home country, according to an official from the Rwandan Ministry in charge of Emergency Management. The group included 107 individuals from Mahama Refugee Camp in Kirehe District in eastern Rwanda, and eight others from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. They were handed over to Burundian authorities at the Rwanda-Burundi border in Nemba, said Gonzague Karagire, the refugee program manager at the ministry, on Tuesday. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)
KIGALI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A total of 115 Burundian refugees, many of whom fled to Rwanda in 2015 due to political instability, have been voluntarily repatriated to their home country, according to an official from the Rwandan Ministry in charge of Emergency Management.
The group included 107 individuals from Mahama Refugee Camp in Kirehe District in eastern Rwanda, and eight others from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.
They were handed over to Burundian authorities at the Rwanda-Burundi border in Nemba, said Gonzague Karagire, the refugee program manager at the ministry, on Tuesday.
Karagire told reporters that the return of refugees is voluntary, and whenever they choose to go back to their country, the government's responsibility is to facilitate their safe return home.
Rwanda currently hosts 52,862 Burundian refugees, including 42,421 in Mahama camp and the rest in urban areas, according to the ministry.
In January last year, Burundi severed relations and closed its border with Rwanda after accusing Kigali of hosting RED-Tabara rebels. Rwanda denied the allegations. ■
Burundian refugees to be repatriated disembark a bus at the Nemba-Gasenyi border post between Rwanda and Burundi, on Nov. 25, 2025. A total of 115 Burundian refugees, many of whom fled to Rwanda in 2015 due to political instability, have been voluntarily repatriated to their home country, according to an official from the Rwandan Ministry in charge of Emergency Management.
The group included 107 individuals from Mahama Refugee Camp in Kirehe District in eastern Rwanda, and eight others from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.
They were handed over to Burundian authorities at the Rwanda-Burundi border in Nemba, said Gonzague Karagire, the refugee program manager at the ministry, on Tuesday. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)
Burundian refugees to be repatriated are seen at the Nemba-Gasenyi border post between Rwanda and Burundi, on Nov. 25, 2025. A total of 115 Burundian refugees, many of whom fled to Rwanda in 2015 due to political instability, have been voluntarily repatriated to their home country, according to an official from the Rwandan Ministry in charge of Emergency Management.
The group included 107 individuals from Mahama Refugee Camp in Kirehe District in eastern Rwanda, and eight others from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.
They were handed over to Burundian authorities at the Rwanda-Burundi border in Nemba, said Gonzague Karagire, the refugee program manager at the ministry, on Tuesday. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)
