Local human rights organization ALUCHOTO has raised alarm over a disturbing surge in killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, and other abuses targeting Burundian nationals living abroad, particularly in African and Gulf countries, since the beginning of 2025
In a report released on Friday, the group detailed what it described as a “wave of serious human rights violations” affecting Burundians in Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, and Gulf states, where thousands have migrated in search of better opportunities.
“We strongly condemn these acts of looting, arbitrary arrests, and mistreatment of Burundian nationals wherever they are threatened,” said Vianney Ndayisaba, ALUCHOTO’s national coordinator, during a press briefing in Burundi’s economic capital Bujumbura.
Killings and Arbitrary Arrests in Southern Africa
According to the report, 13 Burundians have been killed in Zambia, while 169 others were arbitrarily arrested and 19 subjected to torture. ALUCHOTO claims that many were detained by Zambian immigration services, including those who had entered the country legally.
Ndayisaba accused Zambian security forces, intelligence officers, and local youths of being responsible for many of the abuses, which allegedly included looting, beatings, and extortion.
“Some victims reported being brutalized, their belongings stolen, and forced to pay money to secure their release,” he said.
In Malawi, six Burundians were reportedly murdered in May 2025 at the Dzaleka refugee camp, about 40 kilometers from Lilongwe. Most of the victims were commercial motorcyclists and taxi drivers, according to the organization.
Meanwhile, in Tanzania, the organization documented 208 cases of arbitrary arrest, nine cases of torture, and 42 instances of cruel or degrading treatment, particularly along the border between the two countries. Ndayisaba accused Tanzanian security and intelligence services of being behind these violations.
The report also points to widespread abuses against Burundian women working as domestic workers in Oman and Saudi Arabia, including cases of torture, sexual violence, and unlawful detention despite bilateral labor agreements signed with Burundi.
ALUCHOTO recorded 12 women killed, 121 subjected to torture or sexual abuse, and 97 arbitrarily detained in “illegal detention cells.” Employers were cited as the main perpetrators.
Government Denial and Escalating Tensions
The findings come amid growing controversy over the plight of Burundian migrant workers abroad. In July, TV5 Monde’s Journal Afrique published a cross-border investigation—conducted with Ukweli Coalition Media Hub, Afrique XXI, and Africa Uncensored—that exposed severe exploitation of Burundian women in the Gulf.
The Burundian government dismissed that report as “false, malicious, and entirely unfounded,” insisting that the 2021 bilateral labor agreement with Gulf nations protects workers’ rights and ensures social security for Burundian migrants.
In Zambia, three young Burundians were reportedly killed in Lusaka over the past two months. The Burundian Embassy in Zambia confirmed the deaths and said investigations were underway.
ALUCHOTO has criticized what it calls “the silence and inaction” of Burundian ambassadors in countries where such abuses are taking place. The group urged the government to engage diplomatically and ensure the enforcement of labor protection agreements.
“We call on the Burundian government to monitor these cases closely and make sure existing partnership agreements for labor deployment are respected,” Ndayisaba said.
ALUCHOTO also appealed to African governments, regional bodies, and international human rights organizations to intervene and press for accountability.
“It is crucial to promote the dignity and human rights of Burundians living abroad, particularly in Arab countries,” Ndayisaba concluded. “Governments and international organizations must work together to prevent abuses and protect migrant workers.”
Attempts to reach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment were unsuccessful.
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