Thousands of Burundians fled their country in 2015 to seek refuge in Rwanda and other neighbouring countries due to political and security crises in the country which caused the death of hundreds of people.
After five years in exile, almost 500 Burundian refugees living at a refugee camp in Rwanda returned to their home country on Thursday.
They are the first group to return after five years in exile.
A new president, Evariste Ndayishimiye, won the elections last June. He has invited all those in exile to return and help build a new nation.
An official at the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management, Olivier Kayumba said “These are some of the Burundian refugees who requested to be repatriated and we acted accordingly. In accordance with national and international laws.”
According to the minister of the Interior and Public Security of Burundi, Gervais Ndirakobuca, “This is a historic moment and we are happy that our citizens are finally returning after all these years to a peaceful Burundi with a new and bright future, “
“We will do our best for you to come home and thrive, ” he added.
Rwanda hosts close to seventy-two thousand refugees and many of them wish to go home
More voluntary repatriation operations will be organized.
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