About 115 Burundian refugees, many of whom fled to Rwanda in 2015 due to political instability, have been voluntarily repatriated to their home country.

According to an official from the Rwandan Ministry in charge of Emergency Management, the group included 107 individuals from Mahama Refugee Camp in Kirehe District in eastern Rwanda, and eight others from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.

The refugee programme manager at the ministry, Gonzague Karagire, said they were handed over to Burundian authorities at the Rwanda-Burundi border in Nemba, on Tuesday.

Mr Karagire told reporters that the return of refugees is voluntary, and whenever they choose to go back to their country, the government’s responsibility is to facilitate their safe return home.

According to the ministry, Rwanda currently hosts 52,862 Burundian refugees, including 42,421 in Mahama camp and the rest in urban areas.

In January 2024, Burundi severed relations and closed its border with Rwanda after accusing Kigali of hosting RED-Tabara rebels. Rwanda denied the allegations. (Xinhua/NAN)