Burundi: internal civil society wants to block the path of the UN special rapporteur

Around forty Burundian civil society organizations are protesting against a probable renewal of the term of the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Burundi. For these internal actors, Fortuné Gaétan Zongo would be guided rather by political aims. However, other organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International are working to demand the renewal of the mandate of this UN expert. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

This is a nine-page document signed among others by FOLUCON-F, Ligue Izere Ntiwihebure, PISC, Association Ntabariza, ACOPA-Burundi, CODIP, OLCT, Capes+ and many others.

For the organizations leaders, the special rapporteur on Burundi no longer materials to use.

“Peace and security prevail throughout the national territory, cases of human rights violations are significantly reduced, the government and national commissions are at work, we too are on the ground and report the few isolated cases of violations and the fight against impunity is a reality. So what would he do? », ask these actors of internal civil society in Burundi.

They addressed their correspondence to the UN Human Rights Council, asking not to support “the forcing of the renewal” of the mandate of the UN special rapporteur.

Other signs that Fortuné Gaétan Zongo no longer has work in Burundi, these organizations remind him that he did not consult them during his last two reports.

“These reports are lies, fabricated with content picked up from these critics of the Burundian government. So, we who are on the ground attest that he is not welcome. He is only asking for jobs with biased and political reports,” adds Gérard Hakizimana, legal representative of Folucon-F on behalf of his colleagues.

Two contradictory requests…

Last week, the same UN Human Rights Council received a request from organizations advocating for the renewal of the mandate of the UN special rapporteur. Among them, federations like FIACAT, FIDH and the Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and many others.

For these actors, the work of the special rapporteur is more than urgent to document cases of serious human rights violations.

“As an illustration, ACAT-Burundi documented from August 2022 to August 2023: 228 cases of assassinations, 234 cases of arbitrary arrests and 73 cases of torture. Over the past three years, the ITEKA league has documented more than 1,800 cases of targeted killings. According to FOCODE, in 2023, the phenomenon of kidnappings and forced disappearances resumed from February and has increased in recent months”, recalls FIACT (an international non-governmental Christian organization for the defense of human rights, created in 1987 whose aim is the fight for the abolition of torture and the death penalty) a leader in this fight.

Although these internal and external organizations in Burundi do not have the same reading of the human rights situation in the small East African nation, they are rather racing against time as the UN Human Rights Council is holding its 54th session until October 13, which will be concluded by a renewal or not of the mandate of the UN expert.

This Burkinabè, in his latest report, described a dark picture of the human rights situation in Burundi.

“The cases of killings, forced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, torture, impunity and the weakness of institutions which remain glaring concern us greatly,” indicated Mr. Zongo, adding that, in most cases, the people targeted carried out known political and social activities and are critical of the government.

Gitega has already stood out for his opposition to the UN special rapporteur.

“We hear that the countries initiating this mandate contested by my country intend to request its renewal in the days to come, despite the firm opposition of Burundi. At the appropriate time when the text will be submitted to you for decision, I want you to ask yourself this single question: why this forcing? Who benefits? Not for Burundi in any case! », Exclaimed the Ambassador of Burundi in Geneva during the holding of the 54th session.

Elisa Nkerabirori describes the rapporteur’s role as detractor of Burundi.

“Who dictates words to him? What can we conclude when the Special Rapporteur ends up being the emissary of a single opposition political party while Burundi has around forty of them! What can we say about his relentlessness against the party in power? Would he offer us anything better? », Constantly asked Ambassador Elisa Nkerabirori before the UN Human Rights Council.

Even if the European Union is not openly in favor of renewing the mandate of the special rapporteur on Burundi, it supports his argument and denounces the same cases of human rights violations.

“We want to improve relations with a country that does not violate human rights,” insisted the European envoy.

The controversial mandate of Fortuné Gaétan Zongo succeeded the UN commission of inquiry in October 2021.