Less than a year ahead of Burundi’s contentious 2020 election, the UN Commission of Inquiry highlighted a climate of fear and intimidation in the country, with state agents and Imbonerakure militias committing serious human rights violations against civilians, along with several limitations on freedom of expression and association.
Less than a year ahead of Burundi’s presidential, parliamentary, and local elections in 2020, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Burundi (CoI) concluded in its report, released on 4 September, the existence of a climate of fear and intimidation of all persons who do not show their support to the ruling party, CNDD-FDD. Members of the party’s youth league, the Imbonerakure, agents of the National Intelligence Service, police, and local authorities continue to commit serious human rights violations against citizens.
The information is based on our latest bi-annual report to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Six international human rights groups – Amnesty International, the Burundi Human Rights Initiative, DefendDefenders (East
The UN Human Rights Council’s decision to maintain its scrutiny of Burundi is sensible, DefendDefenders
In a joint letter released ahead of the UN Human Rights Council’s 48th session, DefendDefenders and
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