Thousands of Congolese students at universities in Burundi are boycotting
classes after the arrest of fellow undergraduates from the Democratic Republic
of Congo.
More than 90 students from DR Congo have been arrested in Burundi’s main
city of Bujumbura since Wednesday for not having visas, and some have been
deported.
DR Congo and Burundi are both members of the regional economic bloc Great
Lakes Countries Economic Community, known by its French acronym CEPGL.
CEPGL rules states that citizens can legally stay for three months in
member countries – and do not have to apply for visas. Their stay can be
renewed by leaving and re-entering a member country every three months.
president of Burundi’s Congolese Students Association (Cecob), Vital
Cirhuza, speaking said “They say we do
not have visas, but it is a shock because most of us have been living here on
CEPGL cards,”.
He says the Congolese students in Burundi are not aware of any change to
the rules concerning CEPL residents, saying “We have suspended academic
activities to raise awareness, as this is a diplomatic issue. Our place as
students is in classrooms not in jail,”.
There are around 7,000 Congolese students attending universities in
Burundi, mainly in Bujumbura.
