Share

Fearing deportation, Burundi refugees quit DRC for Rwanda

Nairobi - A group of 2 500 Burundian refugees, fearing repatriation to their home country, moved on Wednesday from the Democratic Republic of Congo to nearby Rwanda, a spokesperson said.

The refugees belong to an obscure Catholic sect that follows a female prophet called Zebiya and claim to have fled their homeland due to religious persecution.

In January the group said humanitarian agencies had stopped delivering them aid, after their refusal to register on a biometric database, which they said would violate their religion.

"It has been two months that we have had no food aid from the (United Nations refugee agency), we were living under threat from our Congolese neighbours and we feared being extradited to Burundi," said a representative of the refugees, Dionyse Nyandwi.

He said the refugees had told the UN mission in DRC, MONUSCO that they wished to leave "for another country where we would be safe" and the peacekeepers escorted them to Rwanda, some five kilometres ( away, on foot.

"We are waiting to be registered ... and we hope for a better welcome from the Rwandans because we speak the same language and have the same culture," said Nyandwi of the Burundians who have a similar ethnic background to Rwandans.

KEEP UPDATED on the latest news from around the continent by subscribing to our FREE newsletter, Hello Africa.

FOLLOW News24 Africa on Twitter and Facebook. 

In September last year 36 Burundian refugees died in clashes with Congolese soldiers during a protest over the detention of some of their counterparts.

The UN in January announced a probe into the violence.

Tens of thousands of Burundians have fled to the eastern DR Congo to escape a wave of violence that unfurled in 2015 after Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza sought a fiercely contested third term in office.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
39% - 88 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
61% - 139 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
19.07
-0.9%
Rand - Pound
24.05
-0.6%
Rand - Euro
20.56
-0.4%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.38
-0.2%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.8%
Platinum
894.64
-0.3%
Palladium
992.99
-0.9%
Gold
2,198.42
+0.2%
Silver
24.47
-0.7%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
67,986
+0.5%
All Share
74,202
+0.4%
Resource 10
56,458
+1.4%
Industrial 25
103,645
+0.4%
Financial 15
16,496
-0.2%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE