Burundi- Refugee status removed to 38 Rwandans

The Burundian government has decided to remove the refugee status to 38 Rwandans who were living illegally in Burundi. The decision has been taken yesterday by the Ministry of local government and its implementation starts this Thursday.

Minister of local government Edouard Nduwimana told the Burundian state-ran Radio station that Rwandan refugees who fled to Burundi since 1959 and 1998 are no longer considered as refugees.

According  to the current political and economic stability that are reigning in Rwanda, there is no reason why Rwandans should reside in Burundi as refugees, he said.

The only alternative for those Rwandans is to complete legal papers as to be accepted as Rwandan legally residing  in Burundi, according to the Burundian official.

Ntawukuriryayo Ferederick in charge of public relations in the Rwandan Ministry of refugees and disaster management told UM– USEKE that these decisions do not mean that those Rwandan refugees living in Burundi will be harshly chased away.

Rwanda welcomes every Rwandan willing to return back in Rwanda, he added.

UM– USEKE.RW