Amnesty International (AI) has released a briefing on the continued repression of human rights under the presidency of Evariste Ndayishimiye in Burundi. The document, titled “Burundi: Rhetoric versus Reality; Repression of Civil Society Continues Under President Ndayishimiye’s Government,” provides a detailed account of the ongoing suppression of civic space in the nation. According to Amnesty International, journalists, human rights activists, and political opposition supporters continue to face violence, intimidation, unjust detentions, and baseless criminal proceedings.
One of the notable cases featured in the briefing is that of Floriane Irangabiye, who was sentenced to ten years in prison for comments made during an online debate. The repression extends beyond individual activists; recent government actions include the arrest of attendees at workshops and the shutdown of non-governmental organization (NGO) press conferences.
This latest briefing from AI underscores the lack of significant change in the government’s approach to civil liberties, despite some initial signs of potential relaxation, such as the release of a few imprisoned journalists and activists. AI’s findings indicate no comprehensive improvement in how civil society is treated. According to Human Rights Watch, hundreds of people have been killed since Ndayishimiye’s administration began. The victims include those attacked by security forces, members of the ruling party’s youth league, or unknown assailants.
The deteriorating civic situation in Burundi traces back to the 2015 protests against former President Pierre Nkurunziza, whose decision to run for a third term was seen by many as unconstitutional and a violation of the Transitional National Constitution Act and the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement. The protests initially began peacefully but quickly escalated with the police’s forceful response. Following a failed coup attempt in May 2015, the government’s repression of dissent intensified, targeting activists, journalists, and opposition members, leading to the widespread repression observed today.
For more details, you can read the [complete article](https://www.jurist.org/news/2024/08/amnesty-international-condemns-burundi-president-for-persistent-repression-of-human-rights “Jurist article on Amnesty International report on Burundi”) on Jurist.