Link to article:https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/29155/despite-the-return-of-refugees-burundi-faces-continued-violence
In 2015, President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to run for election for his third term, which caused a lot of controversy. In response, thousands of Burundian people protested throughout Rwanda which resulted into 1,200 people being killed, and 400,000 fleeing to neighboring countries, specifically to Tanzania. Since 2017, a number of refugees tried returning to Rwanda to Tanzania, but the security system in the country was still unstable and Nkurunziza was known for having a terrible humans rights record, detaining, torturing and killing people he thought were apart of the opposition.
A new president named Evariste Ndayishimiye was elected in May of this year causing many of the Burundian refugees who had fled five years before to consider returning home. “Since August, the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Refugees has repatriated more than 3,000 Burundians from Rwanda. Thousands more could return by the end of the year, with up to 40,000 more to follow in 2021.” There are signs the situation may not be improving much under Ndayishimiye. Human rights groups have reported that, “killings, kidnappings, sexual and gender-based violence, torture, and arbitrary arrests have continued at a very worrying pace.” This was just in the first few months of Ndayishimiye’s presidency. If this weren’t bad enough, many of the returned refugees are struggling with reintegration. Many have lost their land, homes, jobs, and lack the financial resources to re-establish themselves. Because they fled, many Burundians who did not leave, view the returned refugees as less patriotic and unloyal potentially putting them in trouble with the government.
I believe the UN should step up and take more initiative in this situation. They could provide more assistance to the refugees. I also believe that neighboring countries should take even more of a role and restrict trading and communication with Rwanda as long as they continue to persecute returning refugees and other groups viewed as political opposition. Going a step further, they could advertise on local media, make posters, have ad’s online, to tell Burdianias not to go back.
This article reflects several ideas we have covered in class. One being governance. The way that both recent presidents of Rwanda, Nkurunziza and Ndayishimiye, have poorly handled the political situation has been terrible. I also believe that this article reflects most level(s) of analysis. On an individual level, Evariste Ndayishimiye and Pierre Nkurunziza are dictators that have corrupted the country of Rwanda. From a dometic/ state level it shows how Burdianans are outraged and protesting because they lack basic rights. At the interstate/regional level many neighboring countries of Rwanda are having to take in refugees because it’s unsafe to live in the country.