GITEGA, Burundi
Burundi’s government is firmly denying allegations that its citizens have been trafficked as domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, following a TV5 Monde investigation that uncovered serious abuses, including forced confinement, wage theft, passport confiscation, and at least one reported death.
The investigation, conducted in collaboration with Afrique XXI and Africa Uncensored, centered on the case of Saidata, a 24-year-old woman from Cibitoke Province. She died under unclear circumstances in Riyadh after being passed between employers and eventually confined in an informal “office” — a holding facility for domestic workers. Her family reportedly lost contact with her in June 2024.
Another woman, identified as Bahati, said she was held in a similar facility for seven months after being hospitalized. She claimed she received little food or medical care and was only released after her family paid over $1,800 to intermediaries.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Burundi’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation rejected the allegations as “false, malicious, and entirely baseless.” The ministry said labor deployments to Saudi Arabia are conducted under a 2021 bilateral agreement with strict oversight and protections in place.
“The deployment of workers to Saudi Arabia follows a formal cooperation framework governed by a joint monitoring committee,” the ministry said. “Workers are guaranteed legal protection, social security, and respect for human rights.”
The ministry added that the Burundian embassy in Riyadh responds quickly to any complaints, and all reported cases have received “effective assistance.”
However, TV5 Monde’s reporting paints a starkly different picture. It alleges that recruitment agencies, including SFPPM — linked to politically connected figures — routinely confiscate workers’ passports and leave them isolated and in debt. The agency did not respond to requests for comment.
Trafficking Beyond One Program
These findings reflect wider trends documented by Burundi Times and other observers. The National Observatory for the Fight Against Transnational Crime (ONLCT) reported that over 16,000 Burundians, mostly women and girls, have been trafficked to Gulf and African nations, including more than 328 sent to Iraq in 2023 alone. Earlier that year, at least 40 Burundian minors were deported from Tanzania after being trafficked for labor.
Despite official assurances, independent investigations suggest that exploitation continues even under formal agreements. Rights groups say many migrant workers are vulnerable under the kafala system, which ties workers’ legal status to their employers and has long been criticized for enabling abuse.
The Burundian government acknowledged that some individuals may have migrated outside the framework of the bilateral agreement, making them harder to monitor. It pledged to investigate Saidata’s death and reiterated its commitment to protecting its citizens abroad.
According to government data, more than 13,900 Burundians have traveled to Saudi Arabia through 47 licensed recruitment agencies since 2021. Many have returned home after completing their contracts and are awaiting new placements.
Still, human rights advocates warn that bilateral labor agreements often fail in practice, leaving workers exposed to exploitation and lacking meaningful recourse.
The government called on TV5 Monde to issue a correction and publish its formal response.
