Interactive dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi
Published on 23 Mar 2021, 02:41 PM
46th session of the Human Rights Council: Concerns over the situation in Burundi remain
Armel Niyongere participating in the interactive dialogue with the Inquiry Commission on the situation in Burundi, 10 March 2021.
The Commission of Inquiry on Burundi was set up in 2016, and its mandate was renewed four times. The current members of the Commission gave an oral update of the situation in March 2021, during the 46th session of the Human Rights Council.
"En janvier 2021, la Ligue Iteka dressait un bilan annuel accablant : 454 assassinats, 1181 arrestations illégales, 124 cas de torture, 52 disparitions forcées et 89 cas de violences basées sur le genre ont été documentés en 2020."
- Armel Niyongere, prominent Burundian Human Rights Defender
Armel Niyongere, a prominent Human Rights Defender from Burundi, participated in the dialogue via video statement on behalf of the following organisations: Acat Burundi, SOS Torture Burundi, CBDDH, APRODH, Ligue Iteka, FOCODE, AJBE, UBJ, FORSC, COSOME, RCP, CB-CPI, CAVIB, MFFPS, Mouvement Inamahoro. He stressed that many human rights violations remain unpunished, and that some perpetrators are even promoted to higher positions. In addition, ethnic hate speech continues to be fostered and supported by ruling officials.
The situation of human rights defenders, journalists and the opposition remains very worrying, resulting in persecution and arbitrary judicial decisions in order to silence them. Citizens continue to be persecuted by elements of the national police with impunity.
The cosigning organisations welcomed the release of four journalists from the Iwacu newspaper but still called for the release of Germain Rukuki, former employee of ACAT Burundi, of Nestor Nibitanga of APRODH, of former MP Fabien Banciryanino as well as other prisoners.