The Burundian regime, led by Evariste Ndayishimiye, is determined to milk every aspect of the crisis in Eastern DR Congo. Ndayishimiye rents out his soldiers to Tshisekedi while simultaneously holding Congolese refugees as bait in a bid to milk their misery.
The numbers are staggering; over 70,000 Congolese refugees registered for repatriation yet the Burundian government (in conjunction with some unscrupulous actors) have only allowed the return of 1,000 refugees per week. In reality, Ndayishimiye is holding them hostage, refugee camps represent a massive economic opportunity for Burundi.
As a result of this heartless humanitarian profiteering policy, refugees in Burundi are constantly holding demonstration in camps, demanding to be returned home which is leading to a massive crackdown by Ndayishimiye’s intelligence services. Sources within the Congolese refugee community indicate that almost 30 community leaders have been kidnapped by the dreaded SNR (Burundian Intelligence). They are accused of “agitating others to return”.
For the foreign currency starved Burundian regime, each refugee represents an opportunity to raise money. With 90% of Burundians living under one dollar a day, and the lowest GDP per Capita in the world, calling for refugee repatriation is almost economic sabotage. Observers in the region also point out at the obvious structural failures within the international community. “Why would anyone continue to fund refugee hosting operations when 90% indicate that they simply want to go home?”, a leading humanitarian activist noted, “These UN agencies should advocate for repatriation or risk sharing the blame for forcefully and unlawfully detaining Congolese refugees”.
An insider within the ruling party laugh at the prospect of refugee repatriation. “Ndayishimiye’s wife created almost 10 NGOs to exploit the refugee crisis”, he confidentiality acknowledged, “I am told even Tshisekedi’s wife launched a good number of fundraising scams in conjunction with the Burundian first lady!”, he added, “Actually, if they try to go home, they will be arrested”.
Sadly, almost all reports confirm the presence of Congolese refugees in police stations and secret service detention facilities. Even more alarming, forced disappearance seems to be the faith of those who dare speak out.
ellenkampire