Martin Blaise Nyaboho, the newly elected chair of Burundi’s Independent National Human Rights Commission (CNIDH), was officially sworn in on Monday in a ceremony attended by President Evariste Ndayishimiye and members of the National Assembly.
Nyaboho’s appointment comes at a difficult time for the CNIDH, which has been mired in internal conflict and rocked by a high-profile corruption scandal. His predecessor, Sixte Vigny Nimuraba, reportedly fled the country after being accused of embezzling over 1.1 billion Burundian francs and gross mismanagement during his tenure.
“I swear to faithfully fulfill my mandate with complete independence and impartiality,” Nyaboho said during the oath, promising to uphold human rights and respect the Constitution, the Charter of National Unity, and existing laws.
The National Assembly elected Nyaboho last week, alongside other new commission members. Gérard Rugemintwaza will serve as vice-president and Béatrice Nkurunziza as secretary. Commissioners Gloriose Nimenya, Issa Ntambuka, Bosco Manirambona, and Dyna Ndayumvire also took their oaths during the swearing-in ceremony.
The new appointments have not escaped scrutiny. Some lawmakers raised concerns over the political neutrality of the commission’s new leadership. MP Pascal Gikeke openly questioned why the Assembly was not informed about the political affiliations of the newly elected members.
“Could we also be told which political parties these individuals come from?” he asked during the session. “For my part, I think it would have been appropriate for us to be informed of their party origins, as you yourself suggested, so that we know who will be representing us in defending human rights during this five-year term.”
In response, the president of the National Assembly, Daniel Gélase Ndabirabe, avoided giving a direct answer, saying, “Political parties know who is not a member of their group… they nominate people they know are not members of their party. And they can’t be deceived, because they know them.”
The CNIDH is currently trying to restore credibility following a wave of internal tensions and public criticism. Nimuraba’s departure last month was followed by a leaked letter from three commissioners, addressed to the National Assembly, calling for a full audit and urgent reform within the institution.
Speaking to France 24, President Ndayishimiye appeared to downplay the matter. “I didn’t know he had fled,” he said of Nimuraba. “If people are traveling through the international airport, it clearly shows they have nothing to worry about.”
Ndabirabe acknowledged divisions within the commission, warning of “hatred” among its former members. “How is it possible that people working within the same institution harbor such animosity?” he asked, calling for a new era of cooperation within the CNIDH.
Nyaboho is well known in religious circles but lacks a direct background in human rights work. A theologian by training, he studied in Burundi, Kenya, and the United States, and previously served as a Bible translator and teacher before becoming the first bishop of Makamba. He also sat on the Anglican Consultative Council from 2005 to 2009.
His appointment has sparked mixed reactions, with some critics questioning whether his experience in church leadership adequately prepares him to lead a national human rights body during a time of deep institutional crisis.
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