Burundi : Aluchoto deplores cases of kidnappings and arbitrary arrests

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, October 21, 2025 – On the 32nd anniversary of the assassination of Melchior Ndadaye, Aluchoto warns of arbitrary arrests and unjustified detentions in Burundi, calling on the government to honor the ideals of the first democratically elected Hutu president.

On the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of the assassination of President Melchior Ndadaye, a hero of democracy commemorated every October 21, the Association for the Fight against Unemployment and Torture (Aluchoto) expressed concern about arbitrary arrests targeting certain citizens opposed to the ideology of the ruling CNDD-FDD party. The association calls on the government to promote Ndadaye’s ideals in order to fulfill the mission he initiated.

Arbitrary arrests and unjustified detentions

Vianney Ndayisaba, chairperson of Aluchoto, stated that torture and inhumane treatment still persist in Burundi, with cases of imprisonment without valid reasons. He also denounced prison overcrowding, noting that some people continue to be detained even though they have already served their sentences.

According to him, Ndadaye’s ideals are no longer respected, and some current leaders, despite their background in the struggle for democracy, are enriching themselves personally at the expense of the public interest.

Authorities accused of muzzling whistleblowers

Ndayisaba denounced a group of authorities he described as “gangsters assigned to the presidency,” accused of muzzling those who denounce the mismanagement of public property. He cites the case of the Top Water company, which allegedly uses water supplied by Regideso to produce mineral water. One of the owners, identified as close to the government, was reportedly briefly arrested by the Bujumbura prosecutor before being released without charge.

A few days later, the Minister of Justice, Human Rights, and Solidarity, Arthémon Katihabwa, suspended the prosecutor from his duties. Aluchoto considers this decision unfair and calls on the President of the Republic to rehabilitate him so that he can continue to defend the national interest.

Melchior Ndadaye’s legacy

Melchior Ndadaye was the first Hutu head of state to come to power in the small east African nation, democratically elected on June 1, 1993. He was assassinated on October 21, 1993, after only 102 days in office, triggering a civil war that cost the lives of more than 300,000 people, according to the UN.

The crisis ended with the 2000 Arusha Agreement, concluded between Hutu rebel movements and the former government dominated by the Tutsi minority. This arrangement allowed the former Hutu rebellion, the CNDD-FDD, now the ruling party, to come to power in 2005.