The rights group ALUCHOTO has accused the Gitega High Court of unjustly acquitting a teacher charged with sexually abusing a 10-year-old student.
The local outlet Jimbere quoted ALUCHOTO’s coordinator Vianney Ndayisaba as saying that “the teacher was caught in the act of sexually abusing the fourth-grade female student aged ten in his home,” a claim backed by medical evidence. Detained in June 2024, the accused was released in November the same year, sparking outrage among activists.
ALUCHOTO calls for the judges who acquitted the teacher to be held accountable and punished in accordance with the law. The case has intensified scrutiny of Burundi’s judicial system, which has been repeatedly criticized for failing to protect vulnerable populations.
Sexual abuse in the educational sector is not new in Burundi. In January 2023, during a public event attended by three ministers, including the Minister of Education, Emilienne Sibomana, secretary at Christ-Roi School in Mushasha, boldly accused the school director, Abbé Laurent Ntakarutimana, of repeatedly abusing students.
Her allegations led to her arrest for “false accusations.” In June 2023, she was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay five million BIF in damages to the director. Her case sparked widespread outrage among women’s rights activists, who questioned the fairness of her trial.
After serving one year and eight months, Sibomana was released on November 21, 2024, under a presidential pardon. These cases highlight ongoing concerns about justice and accountability in Burundi, particularly regarding the protection of children and the handling of sexual abuse allegations.
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