Responses to Information Requests

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Lists of Neighbourhoods in Bujumbura

Sources indicate that a 2014 law on the reorganization of the communes within Bujumbura city reduced the number of communes to 3 (IGIHE 28 Aug. 2014; Burundi AGnews 18 Dec. 2014; Radio Isanganiro 28 Aug. 2014) from 13 (ibid.; Burundi AGnews 18 Dec. 2014). The three communes are Muha, Mukaza, and Ntahangwa (ibid.; Radio Isanganiro 28 Aug. 2014; IGIHE 28 Aug. 2014). Sources indicate that each of the communes are further divided as follows:

1. Muha
• Kanyosha
• Kinindo
• Musaga
2. Mukaza
• Buyenzi
• Bwiza
• Nyakabiga
• Rohero
3. Ntahangwa
• Cibitoke
• Kamenge
• Gihosha
• Ngagara
• Kinama
• Buterere (ibid.; Burundi AGnews 18 Dec. 2014; Radio Isanganiro 20 July 2015).

According to Publications de presse burundaise (PPB), a news website based in Burundi, the "chief-lieu" [or municipal administrations] of Muha, Mukaza, and Ntahangwa are Kanyosha, Rohero, and Kamenge, respectively (n.d.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2. Ethnicity and Socio-economic Situation

Information on the ethnicity and socio-economic status of inhabitants of the city of Bujumbura was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a postdoctoral researcher at the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR) who has conducted research on urban youth in war and violence-affected contexts, particularly in Burundi, and on war affected refugees in Europe, stated that, based on her knowledge, which is "largely based on in-depth, longitudinal, qualitative research," and stating that the information she provided about neighbourhoods "should not be taken as fixed or indisputable," "socio-economic, ethnic and political characteristics are not easily ascribed to at the level of the communes … [but] [i]t is more common to specify characteristics at the level of 'zones' or 'quartiers'" (Postdoctoral researcher 13 Sept. 2016). The same source gave the following views with regard to the "'reputation' of zones":

Rohero and Kinindo are reputed to be home to the wealthier segments of the population, but perhaps best characterised as mostly middle class. Some parts of Rohero zone are known to be catering to the rich as well as high end expats.

Ngagara, in the northern part of the city, was built to house social servants and military from the Burundi hinterlands (it was built in the 1950s). This urban planning legacy still affects who lives there today. Allegedly, many inhabitants have ties with (former) military and other people who had been able to profit from the housing scheme.

Gihosha gained the reputation as home of 'fonctionaires' more recently, after the civil war of 1993-2005. Some people bought land or houses during the war, and have been able to gain from the upward mobility of the neighbourhood.

Buyenzi and Bwiza are reputed to be home to many Congolese and West-Africans, though Burundians live there as well. These neighbourhoods are generally less affluent than those I mentioned earlier: plots of land are often shared with a number of families.

Buyenzi is especially known as a place where mechanics have their businesses.

In Bwiza there are many bars, among others. Houses are allegedly slightly more expensive than in areas further to the north and south of city center: Musaga, Cibitoke, Kamenge, Kinama and Buterere.

Musaga, Cibitoke, Kamenge, Kinama and Buterere are known to be relatively poor. During the civil war, these zones have been hit hard.

Kamenge is allegedly home to many Congolese and other Africans (though some people known as 'Congolese' have lived in Bujumbura for generations). During the war Kamenge was became known as the Hutu rebel stronghold and got nearly completely destroyed. It should be noted that the geographical area nominated Kamenge has changed over the course of recent history: as Bujumbura is growing fast.

Buterere has faced problems with flooding in recent years. Kanyosha and Nyakabiga are difficult to characterise in simple statements, perhaps because they end socio-economically somewhere in between and also know extremes. (ibid.)

According to the same source,

[i]n terms of ethnicity, to my knowledge, there has never been a population census that gives precise or less precise information on the composition or number of Hutus, Tutsis and Twas (and other ethnic groups) in Burundi. Therefore, there is no way to tell whether ‘zone x, y or z, is mainly inhabited by Hutus while zones l, m, and n by Tutsis.’ Nonetheless, in everyday life, neighbourhoods are associated with specific ethnic groups. In part the associations and generalisations build on the (colonial) urban planning projects in which certain groups were privileged at the expense of others. Also influential is the ethnic cleansing that occurred during the civil war in various neighbourhoods. In this period of time, Nyakabiga, Ngagara, Musaga and Cibitoke became designated as Tutsi. Kamenge and Kinama were rather designated as Hutu. After the war ethnic segregation no longer held, yet the wartime lines of division were sometimes still used to attribute ethnic labels to neighbourhoods of the city. Of late, voting figures, however much contested, have also played a role in affirming ethnic labels: political parties tend to be associated with specific ethnic groups. (ibid.)

Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Without providing further details, the postdoctoral researcher stated that

[a] number of the neighbourhoods are sometimes given the term 'quartier contestataire'. This term became in use especially after the 'manifestations' that took place in April and May 2015. In some official and unofficial speeches, these 'quartiers contestataires' are those designated as Tutsi during the war. Yet, manifestations took place also in other neighbourhoods, which suggests that inclusion or exclusion of neighbourhoods in the category is part of a political strategy to re-emphasise or de-emphasise the importance of ethnicity. (ibid.)

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a PhD candidate at the African Studies Centre at Leiden University, Netherlands, who has conducted research on topics including rural regions in Burundi affected by war, refugee-related land conflicts, and land governance, stated that, based on her knowledge and research,

[t]he so-called 'quartiers contestataires' (protesters neighborhoods) have been deserted by many youth and families due to frequent operations of the police forces and the 'documentation' service (national intelligence service), and the Imbonerakure militia (youth wing of the ruling Hutu-dominated political party, the CNDD-FDD [Conseil National pour la Défense de la Démocratie-Forces pour la Défense de la Démocratie]). (PhD Candidate 5 Sept. 2016)

Similarly, Human Rights Watch states that

[the] [p]olice and military, often accompanied by members of the ruling party youth league known as Imbonerakure, have carried out large-scale arbitrary arrests during search operations. These operations have also resulted in numerous extrajudicial killings. Many residents have moved out of their neighborhoods, in anticipation of further police or military operations. (25 Feb 2016)

According to the PhD Ccndidate,

the socio-economic situation in neighborhoods of Bujumbura is a very challenging one, not to mention the numerous displacement of local populations: (i) some families have deserted the so-called "quartiers contestataires" to relocate in less violent and politically sensitive neighborhoods in Bujumbura; (ii) others rather abandoned their houses and activities in Bujumbura to resettle in rural areas, usually loosing significant means of income generating activities (jobs, social network, houses and other properties); and (iii) for others who could afford it (through their social network, financial resources, political connections), whole families or children and wives choose the road of exile either as registered refugees or as unregistered refugees [abroad]. (PhD candidate 5 Sept. 2016)

German news source Deutsche Welle (DW) also reports that residents of Cibitoke, Ngagara, Mutakura, Musaga, and Nyakabiga are [translation] "gradually" leaving these communes as they "are afraid of being arrested, removed or killed by men dressed in police uniforms" (DW 30 May 2016). In an article published on Iwacu, a Bujumbura-based news website, Burundian writer and journalist Roland Rugero indicates that Buyenzi has been described as [translation] "traditionally a 'calm' commune due to its huge social diversity (and Bwiza, to a lesser extent)" (Rugero 26 Apr. 2015). The New York-based digital news publication, International Business Times (IBTimes), indicates that Buyenzi is "a predominantly Muslim neighbourhood," and that during the ethnic conflict between Hutus and Tutsis in the 1990s, the commune "was dubbed the 'Swiss' neighbourhood of Bujumbura, because of its overall neutrality, as residents said they identified themselves as Muslims, and not as Hutus or Tutsis" (IBTimes 26 May 2015). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Rugero also indicated that the communes of Rohero, Kinindo, and Gihosha have been described as [translation] "rather 'bourgeois' [whose] inhabitants prefer to stay in their enclosure" (26 Apr. 2015). Additional and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Burundi Africa Generation News (Burundi AGnews). 18 December 2014. "Burundi: Désormais Bujumbura Mairie compte 3 communes." [Accessed 31 Aug. 2016]

Deutsche Welle (DW). 30 May 2016. Eric Topona. "Des perquisitions suscitent la peur à Bujumbura." [Accessed 9 Sept. 2016]

Human Rights Watch. 25 February 2016. "Burundi: Abductions, Killings, Spread Fear." [Accessed 8 Sept. 2016]

IGIHE. 28 August 2014. Alida Sabiteka. "Bientôt la Mairie de Bujumbura composée de 3 communes." [Accessed 9 Sept. 2016]

International Business Times (IBTimes). 26 May 2015. Elsa Buchanan. "Burundi Elections 2015: Violence Spills into Bujumbura's Muslim District for First Time." [Accessed 8 Sept. 2016]

PhD Candidate, African Studies Centre, Leiden University. 5 September 2016. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Postdoctoral researcher, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement. 13 September 2016. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Publication de presse burundaise (PPB). N.d.a. Alfred Nimbona and Yvette Irambona. "Elles volent actuellement de leurs propres ailes." [Accessed 31 Aug. 2016]

Radio Isanganiro. 20 July 2015. "Les communes de la Mairie de Bujumbura réduites à trois." [Accessed 31 Aug. 2016]

Radio Isanganiro. 28 August 2014. Marc Niyonkuru. "Les communes de la Mairie seront Muha, Mukaza et … mais." [Accessed 31 Aug. 2016]

Reuters. 5 August 2015. "Official Killed in Burundi as Crisis Deepens." [Accessed 8 Sept. 2016]

Rugero, Roland. 26 April 2015. "Manifestations anti-3ème mandat à Bujumbura, ce dimanche : Rwasa reste la clé." Iwacu. [Accessed 8 Sept. 2016]

VICE News. 9 November 2015. Kayla Ruble. "Violence Spreads in Burundi as Rwanda Warns of Genocide Risks." [Accessed 8 Sept. 2016]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral Sources: Historian, Raspail, Institut des mondes africains; Researcher, Conflict Prevention and Risk Analysis Division, Institute for Security Studies.

Publications: Oxford Country Economic Forecasts.

Internet sites, including: African Development Bank; African Public Radio; African Union – Department of Economic Affairs, Department of Social Affairs, Peace and Security Department; Agence Bujumbura News; All Africa; Amnesty International; BBC; Burundi – Agence de promotion de l'investissement, Assemblée nationale, Bureau du Sénat, Embassy in Washington DC, Honorary Consul in Toronto, Institut de statistiques et d'études économiques, Ministère des finances, du budget et de la privatisation, Ministère de la santé publique et de la lutte contre le SIDA, Régie nationale des postes; Canada – High Commission to Kenya; East African Community; ecoi.net; École française de Bujumbura; The Economist; Factiva; France – Ambassade à Bujumbura, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development; Freedom House; The Guardian; The Heritage Foundation; International Crisis Group; International Monetary Fund; Jane's Intelligence Review; Le Monde; Net Press; The New York Times; The Norwegian Council for Africa; Observatoire économique et statistique d'Afrique subsaharienne; Petit Futé; Public Radio International; Radio France internationale; Radio Netherlands Worldwide; Reporters Without Borders; Reuters; Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs; United Nations – Refworld, ReliefWeb; United States – Central Intelligence Agency, Library of Congress; The Washington Post; wazaonline.com; The World Bank; World Policy Institute.