More than 100 Burundian children, aged between 12 and 17, have been repatriated from Tanzania this year, according to officials at Centre Humura in Gitega, which provides psychological care for these young returnees. Many of the children, primarily boys from Gitega, Karusi, Kayanza, and Ngozi provinces, report experiencing harsh treatment during their time in Tanzania.
The majority of these returnees are boys aged between 12 and 17, hailing from Gitega, Karusi, Kayanza, and Ngozi provinces. Many recount harrowing experiences during their time in neighboring Tanzania, often following arrests by local authorities before being sent back to Burundi.
One 14-year-old boy from Marangara commune, Ngozi province, shared his ordeal. “I was deceived into thinking there was money in Tanzania. I left school during my second year of primary school and didn’t even say goodbye to my mother. In Tanzania, I was beaten by the police. Now, I plan to return to school next year,” he said.
Another boy, 15, from Bugendana commune, Gitega central province, had a similar story. “I worked on farms for four months without being paid. I returned home empty-handed and will never go back. I’ve decided to stay in my home village,” he explained.
“Given the trauma these children have faced, we prioritize psychological support to help them reintegrate into their communities,” said Alida Manariyo, the center’s coordinator, as reported by local Radio Indundi Culture.
Child trafficking to Tanzania and subsequent repatriation has become a pressing issue in Burundi. A few months ago, dozens of Burundian children illegally taken to Tanzania for work were returned by Tanzanian police to the Mabanda border post in southern Burundi.
A local rights group, ONLCT, Où est ton frère, had previously revealed alarming figures, stating that over 280 children are trafficked to Tanzania each day, where they are subjected to economic and sexual exploitation. The situation is part of a broader crisis, as child trafficking remains a major issue in the region.
In November, FENADEB, a local collective advocating for children’s rights, reported that over 600 Burundians were trafficked to Tanzania last year, primarily for exploitative labor. “More than 80% of these victims are between 9 and 17 years old,” FENADEB’s statement read.
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