Politically Motivated Killings and Repression in Burundi

Strategic Insights -

The government of Burundi must take immediate action to end politically motivated killings, assaults, and arbitrary arrests. Human Rights Watch has released a report detailing the devastating impact of political violence and repression on the country, particularly in the context of the 2010 presidential and parliamentary elections. The report highlights the blatant disregard for human rights by both the ruling party, the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD), and the Forces of National Liberation (FNL), a former rebel group turned political party.

Key Takeaways:

  • The report documents 23 killings, as well as a dozen non-fatal shootings and grenade attacks, carried out between January 2008 and April 2009 in the context of local-level apparent score-settling between FNL members and those affiliated with CNDD-FDD.
  • More than 120 arrests have been made since mid-2008, apparently on the basis of political affiliation, by police and administrative officials. Most victims live in remote rural or marginalized urban areas.
  • Virtually no one has been prosecuted for the abuses, despite the government's professed commitment to human rights when it took power in 2005.
  • Human Rights Watch has called on international donors and diplomats involved in the country's peace process and preparation for elections to press for an end to the attacks and for prosecution of suspected attackers from all sides.
  • The report also highlights the FNL's recent disarmament and transition from rebel movement to political party, but notes that this is unlikely to end human rights abuses linked to the struggle for political dominance.
  • The government has expelled 22 opposition members from parliament in June 2008 and banned some opposition party meetings, further suppressing political dissent.
  • Human Rights Watch's research indicates that FNL members committed abuses, including the attempted control of their own members through violence during the peace process.

Statistics:

  • Between January 2008 and April 2009, 23 killings and a dozen non-fatal shootings and grenade attacks occurred.
  • More than 120 arrests were made since mid-2008.
  • Virtually no one has been prosecuted for the abuses.
  • Since December 2008, unidentified attackers have burned down more than 50 meeting places of the ruling party in at least 10 provinces.
  • The UN mission in Burundi has carefully documented human rights abuses in private, but has failed to denounce abuses publicly.

Sources:

  • "Pursuit of Power: Political Violence and Repression in Burundi", Human Rights Watch, June 2009
  • "The Struggle for Peace and Human Rights in Burundi", AllAfrica Global Media, June 2009
  • "Burundi: Stop Politically Motivated Killings", Human Rights Watch, June 2009