Resources
Sunday, February 28, 2021
Journalists for Justice
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Confronting Impunity
  • Communities of Justice
  • Opinion
  • About US
  • Our Work
No Result
View All Result
Journalists for Justice
  • Home
  • Confronting Impunity
  • Communities of Justice
  • Opinion
  • About US
  • Our Work
No Result
View All Result
Journalists for Justice
No Result
View All Result
Home ICC Cases Africa Cases

Violence marred lead up to Burundi General Election, says Human Rights Watch report

Millicent Zighe by Millicent Zighe
May 20, 2020
in Africa Cases, COVID-19, Top Story, Victim Networks
6 min read
0
Violence marred lead up to Burundi General Election, says Human Rights Watch report

A woman casting her vote in 2015 Burundi elections

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Millicent Zighe

In the lead up to Burundi’s General Election violence, mainly against members of the opposition and independent actors, has been recorded in at least a third of Burundi’s provinces, Human Rights Watch has said in a new report.

RelatedPosts

Khan’s supporters welcome his election, but his critics still wary due to his role in Kenya case

States must take the time to choose the right ICC Prosecutor

First time in history: a vote on who becomes new ICC Prosecutor

Released at the start of official campaigning on April 27, the Human Rights Watch report alleges local authorities, security forces and members of the Imbonerakure, a youth militia allied to the ruling party National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) have perpetrated an intimidation campaign to force more people to vote for the ruling party in the elections set to start on May 20.

Burundi is voting for a president, members of the National Assembly and local government councillors in the May 20 elections. Politicians campaigned with few restrictions despite the Covid-19 pandemic. So far, the nation has recorded 23 confirmed cases and one death.

Authorities in the country have been accused of deliberately minimizing the COVID- 19 pandemic by concealing information and doctoring figures so as not to interfere with the election calendar. Burundi expelled four World Health Organization (WHO) officials and experts after they raised concerns about large political rallies during campaigns, which officially commenced on April, 27. As people entered venues for rallies they were provided with hand sanitizers to wash their hands but they were not required to observe social distancing rules once in the venue.

“Violence and repression have been the hallmark of politics in Burundi since 2015, and as elections approach and the Covid-19 pandemic unfolds, tensions are rising,” said Lewis Mudge Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

For the report, Human Rights Watch interviewed more than 25 people on phone between November 2019 and April 2020. Interviewees included victims of abuse and witnesses to human rights violations. The people interviewed indicated there were cases of abuse in 6 of Burundi’s 18 provinces. Human Rights Watch was not able to establish the exact number of victims who have suffered abuse since the organization could not verify more details of violations due to the government’s continuing clampdown on media.

The Human Rights Watch report said that on February 19, security forces and an unnamed armed group fought in the hills of Western Bujumbura-Rural province. In the following days, photos and videos showing detained people and dead bodies surrounded by police and locals started to circulate on social media, the Human Rights Watch report said. Police spokesperson Pierre Nkurikiye was later reported as saying 22 “criminals” had been killed in the clashes. He described the attack as a plot to disrupt the elections.

On February 9, a man cheated death after members of the Imbonerakure attacked him at his home in In Nyamurenza commune, Ngozi province. The following day, his wife was arrested after she tried to file a complaint against the dreaded militia group.

“I screamed, fell, and felt blood oozing out of my head. I thought I was going to die. I heard them say: ‘Don’t take him to the hospital; let him die,’,’’ he told Human Rights Watch. 

Members of Burundi’s main opposition party National Congress for Freedom (CNL) have also been killed under mysterious circumstances. Presently, over 80 members are in prison where they are reportedly being tortured and beaten by the Imbonerakure who masquerade as security guards in prisons around the country. One member of the youth group told Human Rights Watch that local leaders offered financial rewards to those who kill, torture or arrest CNL members.

In one instance, members of Imbonerakure attacked an opponent with a machete in Kirundo province. The victim spent two weeks in the hospital after being stabbed 11 times. He filed a complaint but authorities declined to investigate the incident.

In another case Human Rights Watch documented, Marie-Claire Niyongere, the deputy leader of the women’s wing of CNL, was killed and then dumped in a forest in Kiganda commune. The Human Rights Watch report said injuries on her private parts suggested she was sexually abused before being murdered. 

In Burenza, Marangara commune, Evariste Nyabenda, a prominent member of the CNL died after members of the Imbonerakure attacked him during a public gathering on November 7, 2019. Witnesses told  Human Rights Watch that Nyabenda, was detained after the beating and later on he was transported to Kiremba Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

During Nyabenda’s funeral, the Imbonerakure chanted Kirundi songs against the opposition in front of the victims’ house, the Human Rights Watch report said. His widow and children went into hiding after the group destroyed their property, including their house.

The report goes on to say that in the following days, 17 members of CNL were arrested and taken to Ngozi Central Prison. They were accused of attempted murder, assault and destruction of property, which they denied doing.

“Two policemen came to my house, asking for my husband. Five Imbonerakure had encircled our house. They threatened us and told us to go to Rwanda, that the CNDD-FDD doesn’t want opponents in the country,” Nyabenda’s neighbour told Human Rights Watch.

In Busiga commune, witnesses report seeing the dreaded youth militia group paint red cross on more than 100 houses of CNL members.

“Around 1:15 a.m. we saw a group of around 15 Imbonerakure come to the village and paint our houses with red crosses. We shouted at them and eventually they left, but not before painting my front door,” a resident told Human Rights Watch. To date, no suspects have been arrested.

On 9 March 2020, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Burundi (COLB) led by Mr Doudou Diène repeated the warning it first made in its annual report issued in September, that the eight common risk factors for criminal atrocities leading to a possible genocide were present in Burundi. These factors include an unstable political, economic and social environment; a climate of impunity; a weak judicial system; the absence of an independent press and freedom of speech; the existence of reasons that justify the use of violence against particular groups; the capacity of potential perpetrators to commit atrocity crimes; and motives to resort to violence. In light of this, COLB concluded the environment in the country was not conducive for a free, credible and inclusive election.

The main candidates in the presidential vote are Evariste Ndayishimiye, a close ally of outgoing President Pierre Nkurunziza, and Agathon Rwasa, a longserving opposition leader and the leader of CNL.

Previous Post

Kenyan judge to set judgement date in SGBV case in June

Next Post

Should the ICC Appeals Chamber hold hearings during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Related Posts

The newly elected ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan

Khan’s supporters welcome his election, but his critics still wary due to his role in Kenya case

by Millicent Zighe
February 22, 2021

...

The International Criminal Court (ICC) states parties convene at the World Forum Convention Center in The Hague from December 5-12, 2018, for the 17th session of the Assembly of state parties Credit: The ASP Flickr account

States must take the time to choose the right ICC Prosecutor

by Journalists For Justice
February 11, 2021

...

First time in history: a vote on who becomes new ICC Prosecutor

First time in history: a vote on who becomes new ICC Prosecutor

by Thomas Verfuss
February 10, 2021

...

African NGOs strongly advise for or against Khan as new ICC chief prosecutor

States split between Karim Khan and Fergal Gaynor for ICC Prosecutor

by Millicent Zighe
February 7, 2021

...

Kenyan Lawyer, Paul Gicheru makes first appearance before the ICC

Paul Gicheru gives exclusive interview to Kenyan newspaper

by Susan Kendi
February 7, 2021

...

123 states in search of new prosecutor

123 states in search of new prosecutor

by Thomas Verfuss
February 5, 2021

...

Next Post
International Criminal Court, The Hague

Should the ICC Appeals Chamber hold hearings during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Leave a Reply

Please Login to comment
Connect with
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
  Subscribe  
Notify of

FollowJFJustice

JFJ – Journalists for Justice

We call out impunity and raise victim voices to demand accountability for atrocity crimes wherever they occur.

Follow Us

Archives

Our Microsites

Never Again
INTAHE
BarometreVerite
The Point
No Result
View All Result
  • Confronting Impunity
  • Communities of Justice
  • Opinion
  • About US
  • Our Work

Copyright © 2019. Journalists for Justice has asserted its right to be recognized as creators and owners of the content here. Reproduction in part or in whole is permitted on condition that JFJ is acknowledged and notified.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
wpDiscuz