UNHCR and partners have facilitated voluntary repatriation of Burundian refugees since 2017, with the majority of returns from Tanzania, and smaller numbers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and elsewhere. Following the outcome of the presidential and general elections in Burundi in May 2020, renewed interest for voluntary returns were observed amongst refugees living in the DRC and Rwanda. UNHCR began to actively assist returns from August 2020 based on tripartite consultations and agreements with these countries as well as assessments to ensure the voluntariness of return. Moreover, there are ongoing plans to initiate returns from Namibia and potentially other countries in East and Southern Africa in 2021.