Brief report on the situation of human rights defenders and members of the Civil Society from Goma, the Democratic Republic of Congo in exile in Burundi, mainly Bujumbura.
The Global Refugee Leaders Forum has visited some actors of the Civil Society and HRDs in their exile in Burundi and has tried to compile this brief aiming at providing with the necessary information so that you may be able to do something for these people. This is part of our advocacy activity and in case you may need additional information, please contact us.
As you may know it, most of human rights defenders and actors of the Civil Society in North Kivu were living in Goma North Kivu after being chased away from their homes by M23 and the Rwandan Army. For the last three years some lost all their economic activities and lived as Internally Displaced Persons in Goma, without clear assistance in order to rebuild their lives.
Some managed to leave Goma few hours before it was captured by M23 rebels backed by Rwanda, and moved to Bukavu (the main city in South Kivu) where they stayed for a while almost 2 weeks before it was also captured, they all moved to Uvira where they stayed for a week living in Hotels and in host families, but in the process the war broke between the DRC Army and the Wazalendo reserve Forces which seriously affected the security of Uvira (the second town of South Kivu), this was followed by looting and killing of civilians by the DRC Army.
This war in Uvira forced many human rights defenders and actors of the Civil to cross to Burundi where they joined others who were already there. The category of those who managed to cross to Burundi are generally only those who had the travelling documents especially the Pass-Port, the Tenant-Lieu du Pass-Port (which is a temporal pass-port, and the CPGL which is a conventional travel document for people in the Great Lakes Region (DRCongo, Rwanda and Burundi).
The big number of Human Rights Defenders and Actors of the Civil Society crossed to Burundi on Saturday 15th, Sunday 16th and Monday 17th February 2025. From the Immigration offices, all people who crossed the border in Gatumba towards Burundi were arrested by Burundi Police and immediately taken to Kihanga (UNHCR Transit Center) located at about 50Km from Bujumbura the capital city of Burundi. The majority of people in this Center were Congolese, Burundians and Tanzanians.
People in Kihanga Transit Center
The first group was composed of students and other Congolese who lived in Burundi for various reasons, they were arrested during security operations in Bujumbura, the second category composed of Congolese in their diversity especially those who crossed to Burudi, the other group was composed of Burundians and Tanzanians who came from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This alone raised questions how could UNHCR Transit Center be used for all sorts of people who have nothing to do with the refugee status.
15 Human Rights Defenders in Kihanga Transit Center
By Monday evening February 17th, 2025 a total of 15 Human Rights Defenders and Actors of the Civil Society were already arrested in that center because they were heavily guarded by the Police and the Army, the center is in fence and then soldiers and the police are deployed to guard the fence. The Center which has the capacity to host around 600 people was finally turned to a place for more than 3,000 people. In this way the Center had shortage of Water, food, Mattresses, first aid medical care, these services were only limited to a few people and lacked quality.
However the Transit Center managed to accommodate everyone, the toilets were enough, and everyone had a space where to sleep outside, at night there was sometimes rain and affected so much those outside and during the day time too much sun-shine which also affected people. Generally the 15 Human Rights came together and managed to help each other and also advocated for many people who were in the state of vulnerability. All the 15 Human Rights Defenders came to stay in Burundi and mainly in Bujumbura as some had the intention to seek asylum as urban refugees while others did not want to become refugees.
People were taken to the center for security reasons as the security services indicated that some people may be enemies and moved with guns, however once in the transit center people were not checked in their bags. On contrary the security services focused on why each person should come to Burundi. In order to leave the center Human Rights Defenders and the Actors of the Civil Society presented three documents: Medical recommendations and referral letters from Hospitals in DRCongo indicating that the person was going for medical checkup, Bus Ticket showing that the person was in transit towards Tanzania and document showing that the person was coming to Burundi for a training.
The first group of Human Rights Defenders and Actors of the Civil Society left the Center on Tuesday February 18th, 2025, the second group left on Wednesday February 19th, 2025 and only four Human Rights Defenders are still in the Transit Center, generally because they moved with their family members and it has been difficult as per now to argue on these above reasons which helped others to be released.
Interventions
During their four days in the Kihanga Transit Center which lacked everything as we said, it was difficult to charge a phone, to get food, and to communicate. The Human Rights Defenders contacted UNHCR Burundi which indicated that it has tried to advocate for the release of people but in vain as Burundi Military Authorities could not listen from UNHCR,
As our colleagues in that center expected to at least receive a visit of Burundi Human Rights Commission but it did not come only some journalists who were invited by the authorities came to cover what they wanted and then moved away.
Challenges affecting human rights defenders and actors of the Civil Society in Bujumbura Burundi
The very first challenge right now is more financial problems, because of the war in North Kivu, many were already economically vulnerable, and as they kept on moving they finished all what they had as economy. In Bujumbura they are facing the problem to pay for the Hotel and the pressure is becoming so much on them to leave their rooms, but again to go where? They have the challenge to eat, medical treatment and communication among others. Many do not have access to internet, a laptop and now even a phone.
On top of that they are isolated and do not have connections with other actors, they do not know the language and have no idea about the town. While some do prefer to seek asylum, they do not know where to go and how they should get prepared. Most of them are psychologically affected and cannot have access to counseling services. Some are not yet in contact with their family members who stayed in Goma.
The current risks that need urgent interventions
If they do not get urgent financial support some are likely to be arrested by Hotel Managers and be handed over to the Police and in this way their situation will be complicated as they may risk to be deported back to DRCongo,
Those who are psychologically affected may develop severe complications that may lead to suicide,
We may have some who will be forced to die because they do not have money for medical treatment,
Way forward
To urgently help financially human rights defenders in Burundi so that they can solve their immediate problems,
To link up with various actors for long-term solutions, for example send to Kinshasa those who want to go back, and engage with UNHCR for those who wish to become urban refugees,
To help Human Rights Defenders and Actors of the Civil Society to develop income generating activities in order to become self-reliant here in Burundi,
Engage and facilitate link between them and other actors here in Burundi especially organizations based in Burundi and in the region,
Help them with trainings in order to become active and continue their work,
Conclusion
Our field staff in Burundi under the Global Refugee Leaders Refugee Forum is already looking at various options in order to help them, but they are also affected by so many challenges and one among these options is to alert other actors so that we can work together. So if you may have a useful information of an organization partner which can in one way or the other help these HRDs please let us know.
Thanks
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