In the absence of concrete progress on Burundi’s human rights situation, the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) has extended the mandate of its Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on the country, a step DefendDefenders welcomes as the most sensible way for­ward for the protection of human rights. The Burundian government should realise that non-cooperation is a dead end, and resume its co­ope­ration with the CoI and the entire UN human rights system. 

“The new Burundian President, Évariste Ndayishimiye, and the government, are now facing a very clear choice,” said Has­san Shire, Exe­cu­tive Director, Def­end­­Defen­ders. “They could con­ti­nue on the same track of non-cooperation or demonstrate political will to improve the country’s hu­man rights situation and re-engage with the international com­mu­nity.” 

In addition to extending the CoI’s mandate, the resolution adopted by the HRC today highlights ongoing grave human rights violations and abuses committed by Burundi’s police, security for­ces, intel­li­gen­ce service, and members of the ruling CNDD-FDD party, including its youth league, the Imbo­ne­rakure. These violations include, among others, extrajudicial killings, enforced disap­pea­rances, arbitrary arrests and detentions, acts of torture, sexual and gender-based violence, and attacks against human rights defenders (HRDs), journalists, and members of civil so­ciety. According to the CoI, some of the violations it has documented may amount to crimes ag­ainst humanity. The resolution also denounces the widespread impunity enjoyed by the per­pe­tra­tors and deplores the shrinking space for civil society in Burundi. 

Reflecting on political developments in the country, including the general elections held on 20 May 2020, the resolution also mentions hope for progress, including statements made by Pre­si­dent Ndayishimiye regarding reforms and reconciliation, while expressing grave concern over serious irregularities during the electoral pro­cess and ongoing socio-economic and humani­ta­rian challenges. These early signs are yet to translate into con­crete human rights progress. Au­thorities could take immediate steps, such as releasing detained HRDs and journalists. 

“We urge Burundi to open a new chapter for both its people and its relationship with the inter­­na­tio­nal community,” said Estella Kabachwezi, Advocacy, Research and Communications Ma­na­ger, Def­end­­Defen­ders. “Continued human rights scrutiny and enhanced political dia­logue bet­ween Burundi and African and UN actors are not mutually exclusive, but rather mutually reinforcing.” 

The resolution, which ensures continued scrutiny of Burundi at the HRC, as well as conti­nued in­ves­tigations by the CoI, has been adopted as regional and international actors are assessing ways of re-engaging Burundi. From 14 to 19 September 2020, a strategic assessment mis­sion dispatched by the UN Secretary-General visited the country. 

The resolution adopted today is the eighth HRC resolution regarding Burundi’s human rights si­tu­ation since 2015. The HRC established the CoI – the only independent mechanism mandated to publicly report on Burundi’s situation – in 2016 to investigate violations and abu­ses, identify per­pe­trators, formulate recommendations to ensure accountability, and en­ga­ge with the Burundian authorities and other stakeholders. On 23 September 2020, the CoI pre­sented its fourth report to the HRC.¹  

Ahead of the Council’s 45^th regular session (14 September-7 October 2020), DefendDefenders co­or­dinated the de­ve­lopment of a joint civil society letter² endorsed by Burundian, African, and in­ter­national civil society organisations. The letter called on states to support the re­newal of the CoI’s man­date. It outlined ongoing violations and impunity, opportunities offered by a potential political transition, and a way forward for the Burundian authorities: making measu­ra­ble pro­gress on key human rights indicators. 

For more information, please contact:

Hassan Shire

Executive Director, DefendDefenders; [email protected] or +256 772 753 753 (English and Somali) 

Estella Kabachwezi

Advocacy, Research and Communications Manager, DefendDefenders; [email protected] or +256 782 360 460 (English) 

Nicolas Agostini

Representative to the United Nations, DefendDefenders; [email protected] or +41 79 813 49 91 (English and French) 

¹ See Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), “Commission of Inquiry on Burundi,” https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/CoIBurundi/Pages/CoIBurundi.aspx (accessed on 6 October 2020). 

² DefendDefenders et al., “Burundi: Vital role of the Commission of Inquiry in prompting meaningful human rights progress,” 20 August 2020, https://defenddefenders.org/burundi-vital-role-of-the-commission-of-inquiry-in-prompting-meaningful-human-rights-progress/ (accessed on 6 October 2020). 

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