Burundi Studies Cameroon’s Refugee Model to Improve Support for Displaced People

Cameroon’s experience in refugee management is attracting interest from elsewhere in Africa. On June 23, a Burundian delegation visited the Timangolo refugee camp in the East Region to examine the programs that support displaced people and the communities that host them.

Led by Jean-Claude Nduwayo, Permanent Secretary for Internal Affairs and Community Development at Burundi’s Ministry of the Interior, the visit was organized with the support of the World Food Programme (WFP). The delegation sought to identify practices that could be adapted in Burundi, where the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has driven a growing influx of refugees.

“Burundi is facing an influx of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo. We came here to learn from these good practices, and we are impressed by what we have seen,” Nduwayo told Burundi’s national radio.

An Inclusive but Increasingly Stretched Refugee Policy

For more than a decade, Cameroon has hosted hundreds of thousands of refugees, most of them from the Central African Republic and Nigeria. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the country was home to 412,365 refugees as of May 31, 2026. Despite its own security and economic challenges, Cameroon has maintained a relatively open refugee policy based on integrating refugees into host communities rather than isolating them in closed camps. In many areas, the approach focuses on access to education, healthcare, food assistance, livelihoods, and other basic services.

At Timangolo, humanitarian programs extend beyond emergency relief. They also include education, healthcare, food security, household self-reliance, and projects that strengthen the resilience of host communities. During the visit, the Burundian delegation met with local authorities, WFP officials, humanitarian agencies, and refugees benefiting from the programs.

The visit reflects a broader shift in how some African governments are responding to forced displacement. Rather than focusing only on emergency assistance, they are increasingly looking for long-term solutions that combine humanitarian aid with social inclusion and support for host communities.

A Model That Still Faces Major Challenges

Cameroon’s approach is often highlighted by humanitarian organizations for its emphasis on inclusion. However, it also faces significant challenges. Hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees has placed growing pressure on infrastructure, public services, farmland, water resources, and natural resources, particularly in the East, Adamawa, North, and Far North regions.

Needs remain high in these areas. Refugees and host communities often face the same challenges, including limited access to basic services, few economic opportunities, food insecurity, pressure on public infrastructure, and continued dependence on humanitarian assistance. International funding therefore remains essential to sustain aid programs and support efforts to help refugees become more self-sufficient. The Burundian delegation’s visit nevertheless highlights the experience Cameroon has built in managing refugee crises. It also reflects growing cooperation among African countries facing similar humanitarian challenges.

For Cameroon, the next challenge will be to turn that recognition into stronger international support. While its refugee model is drawing attention, its long-term success will depend on continued investment in social services, stronger support for host communities, and sustained efforts to help refugees gradually become less dependent on emergency assistance.

P.N.N.