Over 101,000 Congolese Refugees Flee to Burundi in Single Month
Bujumbura, 7 February 2026
A massive influx of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo has overwhelmed Burundi’s capacity, with over 101,000 people arriving in December 2025 alone due to escalating conflict involving the M23 faction.
Busuma Settlement Accommodates Majority of New Arrivals
As of 31 January 2026, the Busuma refugee site has absorbed 65,129 refugees across 13,707 households from the December influx [1]. The settlement represents the Government of Burundi’s rapid response to provide land and life-saving assistance, though capacity remains strained with nearly 35871 individuals still requiring permanent accommodation [1]. UNHCR commended Burundi’s leadership in facilitating swift access to protection services, working alongside the UN Resident Coordinator and humanitarian partners to strengthen the overall response [1].
Critical Child Protection Needs Emerge
The verification exercise revealed that 39,843 children comprise a substantial portion of the refugee population, including separated and unaccompanied minors who face heightened protection risks [1]. This figure represents approximately 61.176 per cent of the settled refugees at Busuma, highlighting urgent needs for education services and child-specific support programmes [1]. The presence of unaccompanied minors particularly underscores the trauma and family separation caused by the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo [1].
Transit Centres Face Overcrowding Crisis
Beyond those settled at Busuma, 9,913 refugees remain in overcrowded transit centres, enduring precarious living conditions that demand immediate humanitarian intervention [1]. These temporary facilities were never designed for extended stays, yet continue housing the most vulnerable refugees whilst permanent solutions are developed [1]. The verification exercise conducted jointly by UNHCR and Burundi’s national refugee office ONPRA aimed to confirm actual household presence and improve assistance planning for these displaced populations [1].
Regional Context of Displacement
The December 2025 influx forms part of broader displacement patterns affecting the East and Horn of Africa region, where approximately 4.7 million refugees and asylum-seekers currently reside [2]. The Democratic Republic of Congo represents one of the major origin countries for refugees in the region, alongside South Sudan, Burundi, Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan [2]. UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for Eastern and Southern Africa, restructured in October 2025, now covers 25 countries including Burundi and manages strategic responses to such large-scale displacement events [5].