Burundi has agreed to receive migrants deported from the United States under a so‑called "third‑country" removal policy, the presidency said on Tuesday.
Nancy Ninette Mutoni, a spokesperson for President Évariste Ndayishimiye, told reporters that the government would only accept people who are not accused of criminal offences or of having links to terrorism. The announcement did not specify how many people Burundi would take, when transfers might begin or whether any financial arrangements had been made.
Background
The move places Burundi among several African countries that have consented to accept migrants whom the United States has sought to relocate outside its borders under the previous administration. "Third‑country" in this context refers to people who are removed from the US to a country that is not their country of origin. The presidency did not elaborate on the nationality, legal status or prior whereabouts of the migrants to be received.
Unanswered questions
The brief statement from the presidency leaves key practical questions open, including the logistics of transfer, the legal status that accepted migrants would hold in Burundi, and what screening procedures would be applied to determine eligibility. Humanitarian and legal groups have previously raised concerns about the treatment and rights of migrants subject to third‑country removals, but the statement did not address oversight or protections.
Burundi’s acceptance of these deportees comes amid broader international debate over migration policies pursued by the United States and other countries. Officials in Bujumbura did not provide further comment on how the arrangement was negotiated or whether it involved direct talks with US authorities or international agencies.