HRC51: Calling Burundi to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and fight selective impunity

Fortuné Gaetan Zongo presented his first written report during the 51st session of the Human Rights Council. 

The Special Rapporteur noted that “[d]espite the commitments and measures taken by the Burundian government, the human rights situation has not changed in any substantial or lasting way” and that “little progress has been made on aspects of the transitional justice program, particularly with respect to accountability, reparations, land restitution, and security and justice sector reform”.

He also stressed the dire situation of human rights defenders in Burundi, who have, at times, been forced into exile where they live in great precariousness, as well as the targeting of human rights organisations, which work in a climate of fear of reprisals and are subject to restrictive laws limiting democratic space and strengthening government control. 

In a statement delivered by Lambert Nigarura, ISHR and the Coalition Burundaise pour la CPI (CB-CPI) urged Burundi to recognise the existence of human rights challenges in Burundi, to cooperate fully with the office of the Special Rapporteur, and to grant him the necessary access to the country for his work.

In particular, ISHR and the CB-CPI shared their concern about the youth of the ruling party, the Imbonerakuré, who continue to commit, with impunity, human rights violations such as torture, murder, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and sexual violence with the assistance of local officials, the National Intelligence Service, the police and the army.

This concern was shared by Fortuné Gaetan Zongo, who stated that “[s]elective impunity for the prosecution of alleged perpetrators of serious violations in favor of common crimes remains significant.” As raised by the Special Rapporteur, this climate of impunity is amplified by the hate speech from the party in power itself, such as a recent statement made by the Secretary General of the CNDD-FDD, calling on the Imbonerakuré to continue night patrols and to kill any “troublemakers”.