Burundi: Oral Statement by FIACAT, co-sponsored by CCPR Center, DefendDefenders (East and Horn of Africa Rights Defenders Project), OMCET, Protection International and TRIAL International – Item 4 – Interactive Dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi (12.03.2019)

Burundi: Declaration du Parti Sahwanya Frodebu Nyakuri Tragi Rya Ndadaye Relative a une Parodie de Reconciliation entre un Groupe Soi-Disant Issu du Pati et le Parti Sahwanya Frodebu (11.03.2019)

Burundi: Pascal Barandagiye launches an Inter-Communal Competition for the “donations” to the 2020 Elections!

If your were thinking things are getting better in Burundi. Your terribly wrong. Now the CNDD-FDD prepares a Inter-Communal Competition for donations for the 2020 Elections. They are mocking the tax system and the public, by parading their illicit tactics to gain more funds for the fourth term elections of President Pierre Nkurunziza. That is just what they do, at this point.

They have already started using other means to get funds for the 2020 elections, as they are already collecting for other avenues as well, as students paying fees and if they don’t they loose their ability to study.

Now, there is another escalation that the Minister of Interior Pascal Barandagiye have launched his Inter-Communal Competition, so that the Commune in the Republic will compete in who is able to collect the most “gifts”, “grants” or “donations” to the General Elections 2020 Funds. Which is the key thing and been done, even civil servants has to give up donations of their pay-check to pay directly for the election. That is what the regime does to its citizens. They have an extra donation and taxes directly on the public for running an obligated election.

Now, the Commune will compete to see who can give the most and donate the most to the fund for the 2020 elections. Where the Minister Barandagiye will officiate the 1st Place in a Ceremony where the Commune who has collected the most will be celebrated by the President as the results are announced. That is how the regime is playing this.

That is happening as earlier this week, the President himself donated some cash to cause on the fifth of March 2019. That is just what he does, to look humble, when he is really taxing the public as most as possible and sanctioning them. If they are not paying enough for the up-coming elections.

That is what they are doing it like this. To make a spectacle and show about it. To show the patriotism of the commune and the willingness to “give” to the elections. Just like the President want the public for them to do.

This is utter madness. Peace.

UN Human Rights Office in Burundi Closes (05.03.2019)

The UN Human Rights Office in Burundi was set up in 1995.

GENEVA, Switzerland, March 5, 2019 – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet today announced, with deep regret, that the UN Human Rights Office in Burundi was closed down on Thursday 28 February at the insistence of the Government.

“It is with deep regret that we have had to close our office in Burundi after a 23-year presence in the country,” Bachelet said. “Since the UN Human Rights Office in Burundi was established in 1995, for many years we worked with the Government on peacebuilding, security sector reform, justice sector reform and helped build institutional and civil society capacity on a whole host of human rights issues.”

The UN Human Rights Office in Burundi was set up in 1995, in the context of massive human rights violations perpetrated in the country following the assassination of then President Melchior Ndadaye. The Office helped ensure the incorporation of a human rights dimension to the implementation of the Arusha Agreement, which was the bedrock of the country’s stability for many years. The Office played a leading role in the establishment of the independent National Commission on Human Rights, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, in legislative reforms and in the emergence of strong civil society organizations.

“Unfortunately, many of these human rights gains have been seriously jeopardized since 2015,” Bachelet said.

In October 2016, the Government – in reaction to the report by the UN Independent Investigation in Burundi established by the UN Human Rights Council – suspended all cooperation with the Office in Burundi.

“This meant that UN human rights staff were severely hampered in their ability to look into allegations of violations,” the High Commissioner said. Nonetheless, the UN Human Rights Office, in Burundi itself and at its Geneva headquarters, has continued to receive allegations of human rights violations and abuses.

Two years after the suspension of cooperation, on 5 December 2018, the Government requested the closure of the UN Human Rights Office in Burundi, explaining that the country had made sufficient progress in putting in place national mechanisms for the protection of human rights, so the existence of the Office was no longer justified.

“Our reports on the human rights situation in Burundi have always been developed in a constructive spirit, intended to support the promotion and protection of human rights in the country. But I am disappointed by Burundi’s lack of cooperation in recent years with UN human rights mechanisms – which even went so far as to include threats to prosecute members of the independent international Commission of Inquiry established by the UN Human Rights Council,” High Commissioner Bachelet said.

Bachelet paid tribute to the many human rights defenders and civil society actors in Burundi who have worked with inspiring dedication, perseverance, courage and expertise through many political and social crises in the country, while noting with concern that in recent years, many of them have been detained or forced into exile.

“Even as our Office in Burundi closes, we will continue to explore other ways to work to shed light on human rights concerns and support the advocacy, promotion and protection of human rights in the country,” she said.

“The Government has expressed its readiness to work with UN Human Rights Office after the closure of our Country Office and we stand ready to engage constructively. I also call on the Government of Burundi to cooperate with all relevant UN human rights mechanisms, including UN independent experts and human rights treaty bodies.”

Burundi: Communiqué de presse du Bureau du Coordonnateur Résident du Système des Nations Unies concernant la fermeture de l’Office du Haut Commissariat des Nations Unies aux Droits de l’Homme au Burundi (04.03.2019)

Burundi: Declaration du Parlement de la Republique du Burundi Reuni en Congres Jeudi le 21 Fevrier 2019 sur la Decision de reduire l’Effectif des Troupes Burundaises au sein de l’AMISOM (21.02.2019)

Burundi: Communique de Presse – Reaction du President Pierre Buyoya au Document Distribue par la Delegation du Gouvernement du Burundi au 32eme Sommet de l’Union Africaime le 10 fevier 2019 (10.02.2019)

Burundi: ALUCHOTO – Portant sur la Poursutte du Dossier de Viol Sexuel d’Une Jeune Fille Ecoliere a l’ECOFO Mwura, Commune Vyanda, Province Bururi (09.02.2019)

Burundi: Communique du CNARED-GIRITEKA apres le 20eme Sommet des Chefs d’Etats de la Communaute de l’Afrique de l’EST (08.02.2019)

Burundi: Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres – Communique de Presse (01.02.2019)