Burundi has agreed to accept migrants deported from the United States who are not Burundian citizens, joining several other African countries that have entered into similar arrangements with Washington.
Nancy Ninette Mutoni, a spokesperson for Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye, said Tuesday that Burundi would accept people who are not accused of crimes or links to terrorism. The government did not provide details on how many people could be transferred, when the arrivals would begin or what financial arrangements are involved.
The agreement forms part of the US government’s wider use of so-called third-country deportations. Under these arrangements, migrants who cannot be returned directly to their countries of origin are sent to another country, sometimes one with which they have no previous connection.
The United States has already reached agreements with several African countries and other governments to receive such deportees. Rights groups have raised concerns about the arrangements, particularly where migrants have previously received legal protection from US courts against being returned to their countries of origin.
Some critics argue that transferring people to third countries could expose them to detention or other rights violations and may undermine protections granted through the US immigration system.
Burundi said it was preparing for the potential arrivals by making arrangements for accommodation, living conditions and integration into local communities.
“Receiving them requires serious planning – where they will stay, what they will eat and how they will live alongside the local population,” Mutoni said.
She added that migrants who eventually choose to settle in Burundi and contribute to the country’s development would be subject to Burundian law, including rules governing citizenship.
The Burundian government said the agreement could strengthen diplomatic relations with the United States while also allowing the country to assist people in need.
The US State Department had not immediately commented on the agreement, while a spokesperson for Burundi’s foreign ministry said further details were not yet available.