04-26-2019 ■ During the handover of duties and responsibilities between the former and the new team of Burundi National Independent Human Rights Commission-CNDIH, the new president of the commission has promised to work hard for all Burundians. Sixte Vigny Nimuraba, new president of CNDIH has said the newly appointed commissioners will (...)

04-24-2019 ■ More than 600 prisoners from Mpimba Central Prison in Bujumbura were released on 18 April 2019 following the execution of the presidential pardon decreed on 31 December 2018. “This measure alone is not enough because the prison population remains very high in Burundi,” has said Salvator Minani, Deputy chairman (...)

04-12-2019 ■ Following the returnees’ concerns over the lack of homes in their localities, Makamba province governor reassures. “We will do our best to help them have their shelters,” says Gad Niyukuri, Makamba Governor. He said it after Burundian refugees who had returned from Nyarugusu camp in Tanzania on 10 April (...)

04-02-2019 ■ Late disbursement of funds, a large number of vulnerable people and the lack of land to shelter the victims of natural disasters are the major challenges that the Ministry of Human Rights, Social Affairs and Gender is facing. Martin Nivyabandi, Minister of Human Rights, Social Affairs and Gender said (...)

03-27-2019 ■ “The Public Prosecutor’s Office in Ngozi Court of Appeal has decided to release three pupils. Investigations will continue while they are in their families,” Aimee Laurentine Kanyana, Burundi Minister of Justice told journalists on 25 March adding that these pupils have committed crimes. Those three pupils from Kamuri Basic (...)

03-22-2019 ■ Emmanuel Nshimirimana, Marius Nizigama and Aimé Constant Gatore, three focal points of PARCEM, a local NGO involved in the change of mindset in Muramvya province, were freed this 21 March. They were acquitted by the Bujumbura Court of Appeal in December 2018. Faustin Ndikumana, PARCEM chairman regrets the slowness (...)

03-21-2019 ■ Kirundo High Court did not pronounce, on 20 March, the verdict of pupils from Kamuri Basic school of Kirundo province accused of defacing the picture of President Nkurunziza found in textbooks as expected. The court, however, decided to transfer three of the six pupils detained since 12 March in (...)

03-15-2019 ■ Discrimination, under-representation in decision-making bodies, lack of land and raw materials for pottery, are among the problems encountered by Batwa women in Burundi. Esperance Minani, a Mutwa from Mwaro, says in the past, a Mutwa woman lived on pottery. Today, it is no longer possible due to the lack (...)

03-13-2019 ■ The UN Commission of Inquiry on Burundi has presented an oral briefing on the prevailing human situation in Burundi during the 40th regular session of Human Rights Council. The commission remains very concerned over the human rights violations. Doudou Diène, Chairman of the commission has said that the commission (...)

03-05-2019 ■ The decision to close the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights became effective on 28 February. After 23 years operating in Burundi, the latter has entered into serious discussions with the government on the procedure to close its doors in the country. On 5 December 2018, (...)