Full Breakdown
Burundi to Accept U.S. Third-Country Deportees
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Agreement
Burundi announced that it will receive migrants deported from the United States under President Donald Trump’s expanded “third-country” policy. The decision was disclosed by Nancy Ninette Mutoni, spokesperson for President Évariste Ndayishimiye, during a government event in Ngozi, northern Burundi. Mutoni said Burundi will take only individuals who are not facing criminal prosecution and have no links to terrorism, but she gave no details on the number of people or the timing of arrivals.
Background and Context
The United States has been sending migrants to a handful of African states—among them Eswatini and South Sudan—as part of a crackdown that places individuals in countries where they hold no citizenship. President Ndayishimiye addressed the 81st United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2026, where the policy was referenced in the broader discussion of migration. By September 30, reports confirmed Burundi’s participation in the program, joining a “clutch of other African nations” that have accepted such deportees.
Official Statements & Responses
Mutoni emphasized that Burundi is preparing accommodation, food, and integration plans for any arrivals, noting that “serious planning” is required for the deportees to live alongside the local population. She added that if deportees choose to become Burundian citizens and contribute to development, the law will be respected. The U.S. State Department did not respond to requests for comment, and a Burundi foreign-ministry spokesperson said the agreement’s details remain pending.
Data & Statistics
- Prior U.S. third-country destinations include Eswatini and South Sudan.
- A scheduled flight for roughly 70 migrants was cancelled following the appeals-court ruling.
- Senate Democrats allege the overall program has incurred “tens of millions of dollars” in costs.
