Burundi, repression of civic space continues unabated

Four years into President Evariste Ndayishimiye’s term, human rights defenders, activists, journalists and members of the political opposition continue to face intimidation, harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention and unfair legal proceedings.

On Monday 19 August, Amnesty International published a new summary of the ongoing crackdown on civic space in Burundi. This new compilation is entitled Burundi. Rhetoric and Reality. Repression of civil society continues under the government of Evariste NdayishimiyeIt describes the severe restrictions imposed on members of Burundian civil society over the past four years. It also makes recommendations on how to improve the situation before, during and after the next parliamentary elections, expected in 2025.

“The ongoing wave of repression has dashed hopes that the government’s approach to civil society would change dramatically and open up space for debate on pressing human rights issues in the country,” said Tejer Chaguta, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.

Following widespread protests in 2015 and an attempted coup, the government of former President Pierre Nkurunziza pursued a policy of repression that reduced Burundi’s vibrant civil society to nothing. The brief highlights that despite hopes for a change in the approach to civil society and media freedom, violent repression targeting former and current civil society members – and others who question the government’s human rights rhetoric – has continued under the Ndayishimiye government.

After President Evariste Ndayishimiye took office, there were signs that he was seeking to relax his grip on civil society and the media; two human rights defenders and four journalists who had been imprisoned for their work during his first year in office were released.

These releases coincided with initiatives to restore diplomatic relations with key international partners, particularly the European Union and its member states. Some observers expressed hope that the releases would demonstrate a renewed commitment to respecting human rights. In February 2022, the EU and the Burundian government declared that the Burundian authorities were committed to improving the human rights situation, as well as ensuring good governance and the rule of law. But as the new briefing makes clear, any hope for further change was quickly dashed.

Amnesty International conducted 30 remote interviews with people with knowledge of the cases, and reviewed legal documents, media reports, speeches and official statements. Amnesty International wrote to the Burundi government summarizing the report’s findings and requesting answers to specific questions, but received no response.

Renewed repression

Even as human rights defenders and journalists arrested before Evariste Ndayishimiye came to power have been released, others have been arbitrarily detained and sentenced on similar charges.

“False accusations, particularly those related to ‘rebellion’ and ‘undermining the internal security of the state’, continue to be levelled against human rights defenders and journalists.”

In October 2020, lawyer Tony Germain Nkena was arrested, reportedly for his past human rights work; and former MP Fabien Panserianino, who has spoken out about human rights abuses, was also arrested. They have since been released. Journalist Floriane Irangabiye was arrested in August 2022 while visiting family in Burundi. Following a pardon by President Evariste Ndayishimiye, she was released from prison on 16 August 2024, having served two of the 10 years she was sentenced to for “harming the integrity of the national territory” for comments she made during a radio debate. Five human rights defenders were also arrested in February 2023 and charged with rebellion, attacking the internal security of the state, and attacking the functioning of public finances. At the end of April, two members of this group were acquitted of all charges, while the other three were convicted of rebellion and given a one-year suspended sentence. All five were released.

“False accusations, especially those related to ‘rebellion’ and ‘undermining the internal security of the state’, continue to be levelled against human rights defenders and journalists,” Tijiri said.

“The way these charges are being used to silence dissent is a flagrant affront to human rights.”

In February 2023, 24 people were arrested in Gitega, the political capital, while participating in an economic inclusion workshop led by an HIV/AIDS organization. They were charged with “homosexuality” and “incitement to debauchery.” In March 2022, police blocked a press conference organized by Olukom and Parsim, two NGOs working on corruption and sustainable development, respectively.

“The way these charges are being used to silence dissent is a flagrant affront to human rights, particularly the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly,” said Tiger Chaguta.

“With legislative elections approaching in 2025, Amnesty International urges President Ndayishimiye and his government to take immediate and effective measures to end the crackdown on civic space. The Burundian authorities must urgently end the arbitrary arrests, detention and prosecutions of human rights defenders, and respect the human rights of all people in Burundi.”

Amnesty International also calls on the European Union, its member states and Burundi’s other international partners to remain vigilant. The international community must continually assess Burundi’s progress in light of its stated commitment to improving respect for human rights, and engage Burundian civil society in this process to ensure genuine accountability.