Category: Declaration
Burundi: EMERGENCY FOR PRESS FREEDOM
On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, 19 Burundian civil society organizations
unite their voices to denounce the continued persecution of journalists and the brazen
violation of press freedom. Since the start of the political crisis in 2015 following the
unconstitutional third term of President Pierre Nkurunziza, Burundi has been notable for
the continued deterioration of the working conditions of journalists and the drastic
restriction of civic space orchestrated by the CNDD-FDD regime in power.
This blocking of media and civic space materialized in the destruction of independent
media such as RPA, Bonesha FM, Isanganiro, Rema FM and Radio Télévision Renaissance
following the failed coup d’état of May 2015. Since then, around a hundred journalists
were forced into exile, while seven of them were sentenced to life imprisonment in
absentia following an unfair trial, which constitutes a serious violation of the right to a
fair trial.
SOS-TORTURE BURUNDI REPORT NO. 438 PUBLISHED ON 5 MAY 2024
This report by SOS-Torture Burundi covers the period from 27 April to 4 May 2024 concerning cases of human rights violations in Burundi.
During this period, at least two (2) people were murdered in the provinces of Cibitoke and Gitega.
The report also deplores the case of three (3) people from the same family abducted the same day and reported missing since 18 April 2024 in Bujumbura city.
Joint statement from Burundi’s civil society
One week ahead of the African Union/European Union summit in Brussels on February 17 and 18, 2022,
which the Burundian authorities are expected to attend, Burundi’s civil society in exile expresses its
disappointment and concern regarding the decision announced on February 8 by the European Union (EU) to
lift its sanctions against Burundi. These measures were adopted in 2016 as part of the Cotonou Agreement,
following a serious deterioration of the human rights situation in the country.
COVID-19-China: Concerns About The Situation Of African Migrants’ Victims Of Inhuman Treatment In The Context Of The Fight Against The Pandemic
Members of the SOS-Torture network in Africa addressed an urgent appeal to the special Rapporteurs on the human rights of migrants, on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and members of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent with regard to the situation of African migrants’ victims of inhuman treatment in China.
SOS Torture Burundi is member of SOS Torture network and one of the Signatories of this appeal.