Burundi : Human Rights Leagues with controversial missions

François-Xavier Ndaruzanye, Chairman of Human Rights League “Izere Ntiwihebure” in a protest march against the deployment of UN commissioners of enquiry in Burundi

On 26 November, the Home Affairs Ministry organized a public protest march in the Burundian capital for two reasons: to protest against the deployment of the three commissioners of enquiry on the human rights situation in Burundi, recently appointed by the UN Human Rights Commission and to denounce the involvement of Belgium in the destabilization of Burundi.

During the demonstrations, François-Xavier Ndaruzanye, Chairman of Human Rights League “Izere Ntiwihebure”, asked the Burundian government to strike off the Human Rights League “ Iteka”. He accused its chairman of dividing the Burundian people.

The “Iteka” league alongside the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues-FIDH published a 200-page report on the human rights situation in Burundi on 15 November. Both organizations detailed the chronology of the Burundian crisis since the first protests against the controversial third term of President Pierre Nkurunziza in April 2015. In that FIDH report they drew up a death toll of 1,000 people victims of repression for a year and half and nearly 310,000 people who were forced to flee the country. Burundi government rejected the report saying it was biased.

Anchaire Nikoyagize, Chairman of Human Rights League “Iteka”, says he is not surprised by the request of a leader of civil society organizations close to the government. “They speak on behalf of the Burundian government and the ruling party CNDD-FDD. These organizations are created by the current regime to annihilate human rights defenders. “The Burundian government is not pleased with my activities. It accuses me of publishing reports on the violation of human rights in Burundi”, Nikoyagize says. He adds that the government in place forces people to protest against human rights defenders.
“People participate in demonstrations against their will. It is incomprehensible that they protest against someone who defends them”, Nikoyagize states.

On 24 October, the Minister of the Interior and Patriotic Education issued an ordinance suspending provisionally some non-profit associations including the Burundian Human Rights League ‘Iteka’. Nikoyagize says he will continue to work until human rights are respected in Burundi despite the suspension of his association. He calls for the international community’s intervention before it is too late.