African diplomats and UN humanitarian officials visited the Busuma refugee camp in eastern Burundi on Friday, as Congolese refugees appealed for better living conditions and a safe return home.
Footage shows Congolese refugees at the sprawling camp, with families gathering around a mobile clinic and vaccination centre.
Security personnel monitor the camp as UN officials tour the facilities, meet refugees and oversee the distribution of humanitarian aid before addressing the media.
“Everyone here is asking to go home, to our country, the DRC. However, the ONAPRA personnel, who are guarding our camp, do not want us to return to Congo,” refugee Delphin said.
“I don’t understand why life here is extremely difficult; people are living like cattle, like animals,” he added.
During a press conference, Kenyan Ambassador to Burundi Henry Wambuma urged refugees, particularly young people, to remain ‘hopeful and resilient’ and pursue their education ‘despite the challenges that they are facing’.
“Africa’s greatest resource remains its people, and each one of you has a role to play in building a peaceful and prosperous continent,” he added.
Burundian Foreign Affairs Minister Edouard Bizimana told refugees their safety remained a priority.
“Burundi will always stand with you. We cannot afford sending people to areas where there is no security, where there are still armed confrontations,” Bizimana said.
Busuma was established in December 2025 as tens of thousands of people fled fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
UNHCR began facilitating voluntary returns from the camp in April 2026, with organised convoys taking refugees back to areas of South Kivu considered safe enough for return.
Humanitarian agencies have warned that severe funding shortages are straining assistance, while refugees face difficulties accessing food, healthcare, clean water and shelter.
Many remain desperate to return home, but UNHCR says organised repatriation is only carried out for those choosing voluntarily to return to areas deemed safe.
Source: Viory
