The Department of Refugees in Malawi’s Ministry of Homeland Security recently oversaw the voluntary return of 52 Burundian refugees to their home country. The refugees departed from the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, with this latest repatriation bringing the total number of voluntarily returned refugees to 276.
Hilda Katema Kausiwa, Senior Administrative and Operations Manager in the department, emphasized the importance of voluntary repatriation in alleviating the burden on the host country. “We are encouraging all durable solutions to be employed,” she stated, highlighting the temporary nature of refugee status and the need for sustainable solutions.
Kausiwa expressed optimism that more refugees would choose to voluntarily return home, reiterating the department’s commitment to supporting such decisions. In response, Hakizinama Geremie, a refugee who had resided in Malawi for five years, conveyed gratitude for the assistance and expressed hope for peace in his homeland. “We are going back home as we hear reports that there is peace now and we would like to thank Malawians for welcoming and giving us shelter,” said Geremie.
The influx of Burundian refugees into Malawi and neighboring countries stemmed from the civil war that erupted in 1993, driven by deep-seated ethnic divisions between the Hutu and Tutsi groups. As of January this year, Malawi was home to 53,034 refugees and asylum seekers, including those from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other nations.
The voluntary repatriation of refugees underscores Malawi’s commitment to humanitarian efforts and provides a ray of hope for those seeking to rebuild their lives in their countries of origin.
