The Burundian civil society organization ALUCHOTO has issued a strong call to action to the country’s newly elected officials — parliamentarians and members of the communal councils — urging them to prioritize the protection of human rights, a responsibility the group says was neglected by their predecessors.
Speaking at a press conference in Burundi’s economic capital Bujumbura on Tuesday, Vianney Ndayisaba, national coordinator of ALUCHOTO, condemned the outgoing MPs and local councilors for their inaction in the face of ongoing human rights violations. He cited a troubling pattern of arbitrary arrests, unlawful detentions, the persecution of journalists, and the inhumane treatment of prisoners as hallmarks of the previous five-year term.
“Those who have just completed their mandate in the National Assembly and municipal councils remained silent and passive while Burundians suffered abuses and degrading conditions,” Ndayisaba said. “Yet, these were the very people elected to represent and protect the population.”
According to Ndayisaba, ALUCHOTO has documented numerous cases of repression, including arrests without warrants, the continued detention of individuals who had completed their sentences or were acquitted, and systematic intimidation targeting journalists and civil society actors.
“We have seen people attacked, persecuted, and imprisoned without cause. Some had no active cases, yet they remain behind bars,” he added. “This is why we are calling on the new officials to take decisive action and ensure that those unjustly detained are immediately released.”
Ndayisaba also denounced the widespread mistreatment of detainees in Burundian prisons, where he said inmates are often forced to pay bribes to avoid beatings or torture. He criticized the silence of former MPs, accusing them of failing to pass legislation to end such abusive practices.
“There is a disturbing trend of inhumane treatment in our prisons. People are beaten simply because they cannot pay,” he lamented. “Those elected by the people failed to condemn this or take meaningful steps to stop it.”
ALUCHOTO’s coordinator concluded his remarks with an urgent appeal to both the new lawmakers and the general public to actively uphold international human rights conventions. He stressed the need for a justice system free from corruption, favoritism, and political interference.
“They must ensure that justice in Burundi is truly independent—that it is no longer driven by bribes, personal ties, or the protection of the powerful,” Ndayisaba said.
Leave a comment