Introduction
During the reporting period, Burundi's human rights situation continued to deteriorate. This was marked by increased kidnappings, enforced disappearances, attacks on journalists, and repression of opposition and dissenting voices. Between 1st June and 1st July 2024, for instance, ACAT recorded a total of 61 assassinations, 24 kidnappings, 26 arbitrary arrests, 22 attacks on physical integrity, and 9 cases of torture. Journalists Floriane Irangabiye and Sandra Muhoza remain in arbitrary detention. The latter is facing a possible life sentence.
Association
On 20th May 2024, Amos, the head of the National Intelligence Service (SNR) in Giharo, Rutana province, tortured Melchiade Kabura, an opposition CNL party youth leader, for refusing to join the ruling CNDD-FDD party. Witnesses reported that Amos detained Kabura overnight in the local police dungeon. On 21st May 2024, Amos removed him from the cell and tortured him for nearly three hours, violently beating him while his head was down and legs raised against the wall.
On 28th May 2024, members of the ruling CNDD-FDD party’s youth league, the Imbonerakure, and policemen forcibly entered the home of CNL activist Claudine Nshimirimana and abducted her. They searched the house but found no incriminating evidence and briefly detained Claudine before losing track of her. The following morning, her husband was also abducted after receiving a call from an Imbonerakure member. He was released on 29th May, while Claudine was released on 30th May 2024.
Expression
On 22nd May 2024, a police officer assaulted and threatened a reporter from leading media group Iwacu, Jean-Noël Manirakiza, at a restaurant in Gitega. The officer slapped Manirakiza and warned him, “We are following closely and we know everything you write.” The officer then instructed his colleagues to confiscate Manirakiza’s bag, containing a laptop, camera, recorder, press card, power bank, notebooks, and pens. After the administrative authority overseeing media outlets operating on Burundian territory, the National Communications Council (CNC), intervened, the bag was returned the following day.
On 5th June 2024, uniformed police officers in Bujumbura attempted to detain Pascal Ntakirutimana, another Iwacu journalist. They tried to force him into a truck, but Ntakirutimana managed to escape, though he lost his phone during the struggle.
The following day, on 6th June 2024, the CNC accused Iwacu Press Group of professional shortcomings in its political reporting. The CNC’s letter pointed to imbalances and questioned the credibility of sources. These accusations followed Ntakirutimana’s 24th May report on the ruling party’s actions undermining democracy, a 21st May opinion piece on poor economic performance, and Kaburahe’s 12th May criticism of officials exploiting religion to make false promises. In a similar incident, unknown assailants stoned the offices of Iwacu newspaper for several hours. Iwacu continues to be one of Burundi’s few remaining independent media outlets. This is part of a pattern of severe threats against Iwacu in recent months, and journalists Floriane Irangabiye and Sandra Muhoza have remained in arbitrary detention.
On 1st July 2024, Jean Prime Ndikubwayo, the local police commissioner in Gitega, arrested Gérard Nibigira, a correspondent for Radio-Télévision Isanganiro, for photographing officers showing favoritism in managing fuel distribution queues. Police detained Nibigira for three hours and confiscated his phone without providing a valid reason before releasing him.
On 13th July 2024, following orders from Bweru local administrator Diane Nibitanga, police arbitrarily arrested Pantaléon Ntakarutimana, a correspondent for Jimbere magazine and Indundi Culture radio, for allegedly spreading false and unbalanced information about a road accident. On 15th July 2024, he was released.