Evaluating Repatriation as a Durable Solution to Burundi’s Protracted Refugee Situation

Abstract

Repatriation, or the return of refugees to their countries of origin, has taken precedence as a durable solution to protracted refugee situations (PRS). Repatriation is the most common solution to refugee cases, but modern, aggressive repatriation schemes have had dubious efficacy in preventing PRS from recurring. Using the case of Burundian refugees in Tanzania, this study explains why repatriation has taken precedence over other solutions to PRS. This is done by analyzing academic texts, documents from refugee organizations and the author’s experiences abroad. This research concludes that aggressive repatriation occurs for a variety of reasons which reap short-term political and economic gains at the expense of durable solutions. It proceeds to evaluate current efforts to make repatriation more durable, as well as proposing new solutions to protracted refugee situations.