Burundi : former Prime Minister Alain Guillaume Bunyoni still hospitalized in Gitega

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, November 25, 2025 — Former Burundian Prime Minister, General Alain Guillaume Bunyoni, remains hospitalized at the Gitega Regional Hospital in the political capital, where he has been receiving intensive care since October 9, 2025. The former strongman of the regime is reportedly suffering from severe hypertension and advanced diabetes, according to medical sources.

A fragile condition, but slightly improving

A health source speaking on condition of anonymity indicates that General Bunyoni’s condition “has slightly improved in recent days.” Five specialist doctors—including an internist, a radiologist, and a psychologist—travel every Sunday from Bujumbura, the commercial city where the United Nations agencies and the central administration are concentrated, to Gitega to provide him with medical care.

Despite this enhanced care, the former Prime Minister speaks very little. According to several sources, he remains deeply traumatized by more than two years he spent in complete isolation in a cell specially designed for him, without any contact with other detainees.

He was only allowed 30 minutes of daily exposure to sunlight in a small courtyard resembling a chicken coop, a witness confided.

Care under tight security

General Bunyoni is being cared for by the intensive care team at the Gitega Regional Hospital. According to a witness, his VIP room remains under the constant surveillance of an agent from the National Intelligence Service, while about fifteen police officers strictly control access to various entrances leading to his hospital ward.

According to the same source, the former Prime Minister is having difficulty eating. His wife, Hyacinthe Niyonkuru, is acting as his caregiver. Apart from her and their children, no other visitors are allowed.

A former pillar of the CNDD-FDD

Before his arrest in 2023, Alain Guillaume Bunyoni was considered one of the most influential figures in the CNDD-FDD, the former Hutu rebellion that had been in power since 2005.

According to security sources contacted by SOS Médias Burundi, several generals recently approached the Head of State to request clemency :

“He has already paid for his crimes; he must be allowed to return home if he manages to leave the hospital,” they reportedly pleaded.

A harsh sentence upheld in 2024

On June 27, 2024, the Supreme Court upheld the life sentence handed down to the former Prime Minister. He was also fined 22.7 billion Burundi francs, in addition to the confiscation of all his assets not declared before June 3, 2021, the date of his last asset declaration.

Among the charges against him were :

undermining the internal security of the State,

attempting to assassinate President Évariste Ndayishimiye using fetishes,

conspiracy to overthrow the constitutional regime,

undermining the proper functioning of the national economy,

conflict of interest,

insulting the Head of State and the Prime Minister,

illegal possession of weapons.

Currently serving a life sentence, Bunyoni filed an appeal in February 2025 to have his case reopened.