Burundi refugees flock into Dukwi

Lebogang Mosikare | Wednesday July 8, 2015 15:42

The political crisis in the Central African country provoked by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid to stand for a third term in office with the opposition branding Nkurunziza’s bid unconstitutional and a violation of a peace deal that brought to an end years of civil war. “Some refugees from Burundi have started coming to Dukwi camp following the recent political turmoil in their country. I do not have figures but I can confirm that indeed refugees from Burundi have recently arrived at the camp,” said a reliable source at the camp.

The settlement Commandant at the Dukwi camp Bonang Leepo Matekese neither confirmed nor denied that refugees from Burundi have recently arrived at the camp.

He said they receive refugees from different countries almost on a daily basis, adding that he does not have the number of refugees from Burundi who arrived in the country recently following the political crisis that had engulfed their country.

Matekese said they have sheltered refugees from Burundi prior to the current political problems in the country.

According to media reports, more than 70 people have been killed in the last two months of protests and a failed coup attempt, with almost 144,000 refugees fleeing into neighbouring nations.

There are fears the current crisis could plunge the impoverished, landlocked country back into civil war.