Burundi

Detains migrants or asylum seekers?

Yes

Has laws regulating migration-related detention?

Yes

Refugees

84,636

2022

Asylum Applications

3,950

2022

International Migrants

344,767

2020

Population

13,200,000

2023

Overview

Types of facilities used for migration-related detention
Administrative Ad Hoc Criminal Unknown

Related Reading

15 April 2021 – Burundi

Since 2015, when deadly clashes were witnessed surrounding Burundi’s presidential election, large numbers of Burundians have fled the country. Today, some 150,000 are estimated to be living in neighbouring Tanzania. Burundian authorities have repeatedly spoken of the need for refugees to return from exile, and in recent years reports have emerged highlighting instances in which […]

Read More…

Human Rights Watch, “Burundi: Free Forcibly Returned Refugees,” 8 March 2021, https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/03/08/burundi-free-forcibly-returned-refugees

08 September 2020 – Burundi

The humanitarian challenges facing Burundi as it struggles to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic stem from the large number of nationals who fled the country seeking refuge in nearby countries and are now returning. According to UNHCR, as of June 2020, there were 334,000 Burundian refugees worldwide, including some 165,000 in Tanzania, 72,000 in Rwanda, […]

Read More…

A Voter Holding Her ID with her Mouth While Washing Her Hands Before Voting in the Presidential Election in Giheta, (Berthier Mugiraneza, AP Photo,
Last updated:

DETENTION STATISTICS

Total Migration Detainees: Flow + Stock (year)
Not Available
2019

DETAINEE DATA

DETENTION CAPACITY

ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION

ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT DATA

PRISON DATA

Criminal Prison Population (Year)
10,049
2016
9,481
2010
7,022
2007
7,526
2004
9,013
2001
7,525
1996
Percentage of Foreign Prisoners (Year)
1.2
2012
Prison Population Rate (per 100,000 of National Population)
86
2016
113
2010
92
2007
107
2004
139
2001
122
1996

POPULATION DATA

Population (Year)
13,200,000
2023
11,900,000
2020
International Migrants (Year)
344,767
2020
321,018
2019
International Migrants as Percentage of Population (Year)
2.9
2020
Refugees (Year)
84,636
2022
81,491
2021
75,461
2020
78,465
2019
71,507
2018
62,361
2017
57,462
2016
53,363
2015
52,936
2014
Ratio of Refugees Per 1000 Inhabitants (Year)
4.97
2016
Asylum Applications (Year)
3,950
2022
12,883
2019
7,185
2016
Stateless Persons (Year)
783
2022
974
2016

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA & POLLS

MIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION

Does the Country Detain People for Migration, Asylum, or Citizenship Reasons?
Yes
2023
Does the Country Have Specific Laws that Provide for Migration-Related Detention?
Yes
2023

GOVERNANCE SYSTEM

Legal Tradition(s)
Civil law
2017
Customary law
2017

LEGAL & REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

GROUNDS FOR MIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION

LENGTH OF MIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION

MIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION INSTITUTIONS

PROCEDURAL STANDARDS & SAFEGUARDS

DETENTION MONITORS

> National human rights monitoring bodies

> National Preventive Mechanisms (Optional Protocol to UN Convetion against Torture)

> Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)

> Governmental monitoring bodies

> International detention monitoring

TRANSPARENCY

READMISSION/RETURN/EXTRADITION AGREEMENTS

COVID-19

HEALTH CARE

COVID-19 DATA

INTERNATIONAL TREATIES

International Treaties Ratified
Ratification Year
Observation Date
OPCRPD, Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
2014
2018
ICESCR, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
1990
2017
CTOCSP, Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
2012
2017
CTOCTP, Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children
2012
2017
CRSR, Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
1963
2017
CRC, Convention on the Rights of the Child
1990
2017
CAT, Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
1993
2017
CEDAW, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
1992
2017
ICCPR, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
1990
2017
ICERD, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
1977
2017
CRPD, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
2014
2014
OPCAT, Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
2013
2013
Ratio of relevant international treaties ratified
Ratio: 12/19
Individual Complaints Procedures
Acceptance Year
CAT, declaration under article 22 of the Convention 2003
2003
Ratio of Complaints Procedures Accepted
Observation Date
1/5
2017

NON-TREATY-BASED INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS

Relevant Recommendations from the UN Universal Periodic Review
Observation Date
No 2013
2017
No 2009
2017

REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS

Regional Legal Instruments
Year of Ratification (Treaty) / Transposed (Directive) / Adoption (Regulation)
Observation Date
ACRWC, African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child 2004
2004
2017
ACHPR, African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights 1989
1989
2017

DETENTION COSTS

OUTSOURCING

FOREIGN SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR DETENTION OPERATIONS