Wayne Lumbasi
Burundi has agreed to receive migrants deported from the United States under President Donald Trump’s third-country deportation policy, joining a growing number of African nations involved in Washington’s efforts to relocate migrants beyond their countries of origin.
The agreement, announced on September 29, 2026, by Burundian presidential spokesperson Nancy Ninette Mutoni, allows the United States to transfer certain foreign nationals to the East African country. Burundi has indicated that it will not accept individuals facing criminal prosecution or those suspected of involvement in terrorism. However, the government has not disclosed the number of migrants expected to arrive, their nationalities or when the transfers will begin.
Mutoni said the Burundian government was preparing to provide accommodation, food and assistance to help the migrants settle into local communities. She also indicated that those who respect the country’s laws, contribute to its development and wish to integrate into society could potentially pursue citizenship under Burundian law.
The legal dispute surrounding the policy has added further uncertainty. On September 29, 2026, the US Supreme Court temporarily allowed the administration to resume third-country deportations while it considers a broader legal challenge. The case concerns whether migrants must receive advance notice and a meaningful opportunity to explain why they could face persecution or torture in the countries designated to receive them. The court’s temporary decision does not settle the underlying legal questions.
For Burundi, the agreement introduces new responsibilities at a time when the practical arrangements remain largely undisclosed. The government has yet to clarify how many migrants it will receive, how long they may remain in the country or whether the United States will provide financial assistance. The absence of these details leaves questions about the resources required to accommodate the deportees and the legal protections available to them.
Burundi’s participation reflects the expanding involvement of African countries in US migration arrangements, placing the continent at the centre of an increasingly international debate over deportation, national sovereignty and the protection of migrants’ rights.
RELATED:
