Burundi: As risk factors multiply, it is imperative to extend the Special Rapporteur’s mandate
As serious human rights violations and abuses continue to be committed in Burundi in a context of widespread impunity, and as the country has entered a long electoral cycle that started with the 2025 legislative and communal elections and will culminate with the 2027 presidential election, and is associated with multiple risk factors of grave human rights violations and atrocities, the UN Human Rights Council should maintain its scrutiny of the country. At its 60th session (8 September-8 October 2025), it should extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi.
Weekly Report N°505
This report by SOS-Torture Burundi covers the period from 9 to 16 August 2025. It documents cases of human rights violations committed on Burundian territory.
During this period, one (1) person was murdered by Imbonerakure in Gitega province.
Weekly Report N° 504 on the human rights situation
This report by SOS-Torture Burundi covers the period from 2 to 9 August 2025. It documents cases of human rights violations committed on Burundian territory.
During this period, one (1) person was murdered by Imbonerakure in Burunga province.
The report also mentions the case of one (1) person who was kidnapped by agents of the National Intelligence Service (SNR) in the province of Bujumbura.
Burundi : Weekly Report N° 503 on the human rights situation
This report by SOS-Torture Burundi covers the period from 26 July to 2 August 2025. It documents cases of human rights violations committed on Burundian territory.
During this period, two (2) people were murdered by Imbonerakure in Burunga province.
The report also points to the case of two (2) students who were arbitrarily arrested and detained by the police in the province of Burunga as well as two (2) cases of abduction or enforced disappearance perpetrated by agents of the National Intelligence Service (SNR) in the provinces of Bujumbura and Butanyerera.
SOS-TORTURE Burundi REPORT NO. 502 PUBLISHED ON JULY 27, 2025
This report of SOS-Torture Burundi covers the period from 19 to 26 July 2025. It documents cases of human rights violations committed on Burundian territory.
During this period, three (3) people were murdered in the provinces of Bujumbura, Gitega and Butanyerera, while three (3) others were seriously injured in a grenade attack in the province of Bujumbura.
SOS-TORTURE BURUNDI REPORT NO. 501 PUBLISHED ON JULY 20, 2025
This report by SOS-Torture Burundi covers the period from 12 to 19 July 2025. It documents cases of human rights violations committed on Burundian territory.
During this period, three (3) people were murdered in the provinces of Bujumbura and Butanyerera.
SOS-TORTURE Burundi REPORT NO. 500 PUBLISHED ON 13 JULY 2025
This report by SOS-Torture Burundi covers the period from 5 to 12 July 2025 and documents cases of human rights violations committed on Burundian territory.
During this period, three (3) people were murdered in the provinces of Cankuzo, Cibitoke and Ngozi.
SOS-TORTURE BURUNDI REPORT NO. 499 PUBLISHED ON JULY 6, 2025
This report by SOS-Torture Burundi covers the period from 28 June to 5 July 2025 and documents cases of human rights violations committed on Burundian territory.
During this period, seven (7) people were murdered in the provinces of Bujumbura and Rumonge.
The report also notes the case of one (1) person who was seriously injured by Imbonerakure in Ruyigi province.
SOS-TORTURE Burundi REPORT NO. 498 PUBLISHED ON 29 JUNE 2025
This report by SOS-Torture Burundi covers the period from 21 to 28 June 2025 and documents cases of human rights violations committed on Burundian territory.
During this period, one (1) person was murdered in Muyinga province.
The report also reports the case of one (1) person who was seriously injured by police officers in Makamba province.
Urgent Appeal for a fair approach to the memory of crimes of genocide and crimes against humanity committed in Burundi
From: the below signatory Burundian civil society organizations:
- Action des Chrétiens pour l’Abolition de la Torture au Burundi (ACAT Burundi)
- Association des Journalistes Burundais en Exil (AJBE)
- Association burundaise pour la protection des droits de l’homme et des personnes détenues (APRODH)
- Centre pour le Renforcement de l’Éducation et du Développement de la Jeunesse (CREDEJ)
- Coalition Burundaise des Défenseurs des Droits de l’Homme (CBDDH)
- Coalition pour la des Défense des droits Humains Vivant dans les Camps des Réfugiés (CDH/VICAR)
- Coalition Burundaise pour la Cour Pénale Internationale (CB-CPI)
- Coalition de la Société Civile pour le Monitoring Électoral (COSOME)
- Collectif des Avocats pour la défense des Victimes de crimes de droit International commis au Burundi (CAVIB)
- Ensemble pour le Soutien des Défenseurs des Droits Humains en danger (ESDDH)
- Forum pour la Conscience et de Développement (FOCODE)
- Forum pour le Renforcement de la société civile au Burundi (FORSC)
- Light for all
- Ligue ITEKA
- Mouvement INAMAHORO
- Mouvement des femmes et filles pour la Paix et la Sécurité au Burundi (MFFPS)
- Réseau des Citoyens Probes (RCP)
- SOS Torture-Burundi
- Tournons la Page-Burundi (TLP-Burundi)
- Union Burundaise des Journalistes (UBJ)
To the attention of:
- The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres
- The United Nations Secretary-General Special Advisor on the prevention of genocide, Ms Wairimu Alice Nderitu
- The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Ambassador Philemon Yang,
- The United Nations High Commissionner for Human Rights, Mr. Monsieur Volker Türk,
- The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence, Mr. Bernard Duhaime
- Permanent Représentatives to the United Nations
Your Excellencies, with our highest consideration,
We, the Burundian civil society organizations, signatories of this appeal, have been informed of a plan to hold a side event this June 25, 2025, at the United Nations Headquarters, on the topic “The 1972 Genocide against the Hutu of Burundi: from memory to action in the framework of the responsibility to protect.” This title raises serious ethical, legal and political concerns.
It is well known that the recognition of genocide is a highly sensitive process, strictly guided by the 1948 Convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide. To date, no competent international body has legally qualified the events of 1972 in Burundi as genocide according to international law.
Since the political crisis that has been shaking Burundi since 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which has become a political instrument used by the ruling party (CNDD-FDD), has only carried out isolated work that only serves to divide Burundians who were victims of several tragedies that have bereaved both the Twa, Tutsis and Hutus simultaneously or in separate episodes.
Holding such an event under the auspices of the United Nations may end up endorsing a partial, unilateral and politicized reading of Burundian history.
BDI CSOs Urgent Appeal to UN June2025