Burundi : a massive roundup of youths shakes éowntown Bujumbura

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, July 7, 2026 – More than 80 young people were arrested Monday around noon in downtown Bujumbura, Burundi’s economic capital, during an operation conducted by the National Police with the support of Imbonerakure youth wing members, the youth league of the ruling CNDD-FDD party, according to several witnesses. Families of those arrested and human rights organizations denounce the arrests as arbitrary and involve acts of intimidation, while the police maintain it was a routine check.

According to information gathered by SOS Media Burundi, the operation took place in several streets in the city center, particularly around the area commonly known as “Kiosk,” a popular meeting place for Bujumbura residents and people from other parts of the country.

This area is also a major bus hub, serving various neighborhoods of the economic capital, which explains the daily presence of many young people.

Witnesses report that police officers, accompanied by Imbonerakure youth wearing distinctive T-shirts, arrested several young people in the area. According to these same sources, those arrested included young people waiting for appointments, going about their daily activities, or seeking medical care.

“They were arresting any young people they found there, indiscriminately and without any clear explanation,” testified one witness to the operation.

More than 80 young people taken to the Buyenzi municipal police station

According to several concurring sources, those arrested were loaded onto a police truck before being taken to the municipal police station located in the Buyenzi area, still known to the public as the Special Investigation Bureau (BSR), a reference to the former police unit that previously occupied the premises.

Witnesses estimate that more than 80 young people were taken to this police station. Families claim that some of them spent a second night in detention there.

Relatives of those arrested say they do not understand how the police could have carried out these arrests without presenting an arrest warrant or clearly explaining the reasons for the arrests. They denounce what they consider an irregular procedure.

They also indicate that some of the young people arrested were on their way to hospitals in the city, while others were simply in the area because of its role as a transportation hub.

Families are calling on the government to put an end to what they describe as acts of intimidation targeting young people.

Releases for a fee, according to a former detainee

A person who was arrested and then released claims that some young people were freed after paying 10,000 Burundian francs each.

“Some young people were released after paying a fine of 10,000 Burundian francs. But those who had identification badges were released immediately,” this source claims.

SOS Médias Burundi was unable to independently verify these statements.

The spokesperson for the National Police declined to provide the exact number of people arrested or the number already released.

ALUCHOTO denounces arrests as illegal

The Association for the Fight Against Unemployment and Torture (ALUCHOTO) believes that the arrests targeting young men are contrary to the Burundian Constitution and current laws.

Its national coordinator, Vianney Ndayisaba, asserts that the police officers did not present any arrest warrants during these detentions.

He reiterates that Burundian law guarantees everyone the right to move freely throughout the national territory.

“The authorities must respect the existing legislation and the fundamental rights of citizens so as not to tarnish the country’s image,” he states.

The police describe it as a routine operation.

Speaking on a local radio station, the spokesperson for the National Police, Désiré Nduwimana, stated that these detentions were part of routine control and security operations conducted in downtown Bujumbura.

According to him, there was “nothing unusual” about this operation.

This version is, however, disputed by several witnesses interviewed by SOS Médias Burundi, who claim that the operation primarily targeted young men in the city center, some of whom were arrested while going about their daily activities.

Persistent human rights concerns

These arrests come in a context where human rights organizations and international experts continue to express concerns about the state of civil liberties in Burundi.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi recently denounced the continued arbitrary arrests, unlawful detentions, and acts of intimidation targeting certain citizens.

He calls on the Burundian authorities to guarantee respect for fundamental rights, due process, and civil liberties.