Congolese refugees residing at the Musenyi site in Musongati commune, Burunga province, southeastern Burundi, are demanding broader free circulation amidst aid shortfalls. This particular location, situated in southeastern Burundi, is home to a significant population facing these challenges. A significant portion of these refugees relies on small commerce to supplement insufficient humanitarian assistance, which has become a key survival strategy. Authorities have permitted refugees to access the Rubaho weekly market without a permit every Wednesday since May 2026, offering a limited opportunity for economic activity and a designated day for trade. However, this allowance does not address broader calls for unrestricted movement, which refugees argue is essential for their self-sufficiency.
Struggles with Exit Permits and Security Concerns
To leave the Musenyi site, refugees are required to obtain an exit permit from the administration. The process for securing these permits has led to difficulties for many, intensifying their calls for free circulation. Access to exit permits from the Musenyi site is reportedly difficult for refugees, characterized by high demand and extended waiting times. Some refugees indicate they have waited several days to obtain these permits, noting the bureaucratic hurdles they face. Recently, several Congolese refugees encountered legal issues after attempting to depart the camp without the necessary authorization, resulting in arrests. This shows the strict enforcement of movement restrictions and the risks refugees undertake when seeking to bypass them.
Further complicating matters, some refugees seeking exit permits are required to leave their SCOPE card as collateral. The SCOPE card is essential for accessing humanitarian aid, particularly food distributions. Refugees express significant concern that this requirement could lead to them missing vital food allocations if they are unable to return to the camps promptly. They fear losing food distributions if they cannot return to the camps in time due to leaving their SCOPE card as collateral, placing them in a difficult dilemma between seeking economic opportunities and ensuring their basic needs are met. The practice of holding SCOPE cards as collateral effectively links their freedom of movement to their ability to receive essential assistance, creating a profound dependency.
Further restrictions on movement are evident through the installation of barriers on hills surrounding the site. Reports indicate that members of the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of the ruling CNDD-FDD party, man some of these checkpoints, raising concerns about the nature of these controls and their impact on refugee mobility. These barriers and checkpoints further curtail the ability of refugees to move freely outside the designated areas.
Economic Survival and Trade Amidst Limitations
The Musenyi camp currently hosts nearly 22,000 Congolese refugees. These refugees rely on various economic activities to sustain themselves, particularly as the 30,000 Burundian francs distributed per person is no longer sufficient to meet their basic needs. The inadequacy of direct aid compels them to seek alternative income sources. To engage in trade, refugee traders source goods from a network of markets across Burundi. They travel to Rubaho, Makamba, Rumonge, Bujumbura, and Gitega to acquire items for resale, demonstrating the extensive travel required for their economic survival. This necessity to travel to multiple distant markets shows the difficulties refugees encounter in generating consistent income while confined by permit requirements and limited free movement. The journey to these markets, often involving significant time and resources, is a testament to their resilience in the face of hardship.
The movement restrictions faced by refugees at Musenyi are not isolated. Similar limitations on circulation are reported in the Bwagiriza and Kavumu camps, both located in eastern Burundi, indicating a broader policy or practice across the country. These restrictions constrain refugees' ability to access broader markets and economic opportunities, further exacerbating the challenges posed by insufficient aid. The need to travel to multiple distant markets shows the difficulties refugees encounter in generating consistent income while confined by permit requirements.
Aid Systems and Legal Framework
The SCOPE system, an electronic assistance card, was introduced by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for Congolese refugees residing in Burundi. This system is key for accessing aid, including food and other essential distributions, and its operation is central to humanitarian efforts in the camps. Burundian legislation, however, acknowledges refugees' freedom of movement within their commune of reception, though it allows for the application of certain limitations. This legal provision notes a potential discrepancy between the recognized rights of refugees and the practical restrictions they face on the ground, particularly concerning movement beyond their immediate commune. The implementation of these limitations, whether for security or administrative reasons, directly impacts the daily lives and economic prospects of the Congolese refugee population in Burundi.
