01-03-2018 ■ “They ignored my request and concern and removed soldiers who were guarding me,” says Agathon Rwasa, First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and the chairman of the opposition political coalition ‘Amizero y’Abarundi’. He says his safety is in danger. On December 27, the soldiers who were guarding him (...)

01-01-2018 ■ The draft revision of the Constitution submitted to the referendum of May 2018 redefines an independent during an electoral process. Amizero y’Abarundi Coalition denounces a strategy aimed at excluding it from the election. “He/she is considered as independent, the candidate who has not identified with any political party for (...)

12-30-2017 ■ The local NGO PARCEM says Burundi is in a critical situation as all reports produced all along 2017 place it in the last position. The organisation says it is up to each and everyone to review their contribution to avoid further chaos. A low ranking, youth unemployment, extreme poverty, (...)

12-29-2017 ■ In the public conference held in Kayanza province last Friday 29 December 2017, Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza said the recent election of the EALA Speaker did not respect the regulations governing the East African Community. “The EALA Speaker is elected following the rotation system. Uganda was the previous chair (...)

12-29-2017 ■ Agathon Rwasa, the chairman of the coalition of “Amizero y’Abarundi” and First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly says he is deeply concerned about his security as he continues to be persecuted. On 27 December, the agents of the National Defense Forces told him that his security guards had (...)

12-29-2017 ■ Three bridges have been recently rehabilitated in the northern part of Bujumbura city. The population from the neighbourhood appreciates this government’s initiative but asks it to rehabilitate the roads. The rehabilitation of the bridges over Nyabagere River in Ntahangwa commune of Bujumbura city is acknowledged by the population in (...)

12-28-2017 ■ Bicycle-taxi riders in the capital Bujumbura complain about the excessive fees and exorbitant prices for the purchase of plates and cardigans. Those bicycle-taxi riders grouped in a collective of two associations of Burundian bikers “Sotavedebu” and “Sotavebu” say each member must contribute BIF 50 to the first association and (...)

12-28-2017 ■ The Ministry of public security rates its achievements at 90%. It says killing cases decreased from 401 in 2016 to 277 in 2017. Civil society activist says 277 people killed is not a small number. During the presentation of the 2017 report by the ministry of the public security, (...)

12-26-2017 ■ Prosper Ntahorwamiye, Spokesperson for the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) says the commission did not get any application from the Catholic Church. He, however, says it was represented in the consultation meeting on 15 December. Ntahorwamiye says the Chairman of the Conference of Burundi Catholic Bishops [CECAB], Bishop Joachim (...)

12-26-2017 ■ Traders operating in six markets of the capital Bujumbura complain that it is taking too long to return to the newly rehabilitated markets. They say that the temporary ones are not appropriate enough to work in especially during the rainy season. Since January 2016, Bujumbura city council asked different (...)