Climate of terror in Burundi : Vianney Ndayisaba escapes gunmen after his denunciations

SOSMediasBurundi

Bujumbura, January 6, 2026 – Threatened because of his denunciations of corruption, human trafficking, and abuses of power, Vianney Ndayisaba, president of the Association for the Fight Against Unemployment and Torture (ALUCHOTO), narrowly escaped an attempted kidnapping on Sunday night in Maramvya, Ntahangwa district, Bujumbura province, on the outskirts of the commercial capital, Bujumbura.

In a telephone interview with SOS Médias Burundi, Ndayisaba explained that he has been receiving increasing threats since his appearance on the public program hosted by President Évariste Ndayishimiye on December 26, 2025, in Muramvya, central Burundi. According to him, these threats are directly linked to his revelations : the sending of Burundian women and girls to Gulf countries with the alleged complicity of high-ranking security officials and civil servants; abuses and poor governance attributed to certain officials and civil servants of the ruling party, the CNDD-FDD; land grabbing; and human trafficking.

“I receive many threatening messages demanding that I stop denouncing what is wrong in the country. I swear to you that I am not afraid to continue defending human rights,” Ndayisaba stated.

At a press conference held on Monday, he stated that a white pickup truck, without license plates, carrying five men in police uniforms and armed with pistols, had been seen near his home. One of the men, carrying a pistol and a Motorola radio, reportedly asked him if he was the man.

In recent months, ALUCHOTO has intensified its denunciations, bolstering its image in a country where critical voices are scarce. Since the 2015 crisis, triggered by the controversial presidency of the late Pierre Nkurunziza, most independent organizations have been deregistered and many activists forced into exile. Several have been sentenced in absentia to harsh terms, including life imprisonment, judgments denounced by international human rights organizations.

Ndayisaba claims to have already contacted the relevant authorities to ensure his safety, stating that he knows the source of these threats. He calls on the government to take all necessary measures to ensure his protection and allow him to continue his commitment to defending human rights without fear.

This incident underscores the fragility of critical voices in Burundi and the climate of threat facing activists. Vianney Ndayisaba’s safety has become a symbol of the fight for human rights in a country where denouncing corruption and abuses remains dangerous. The international community is watching, and the protection of human rights defenders remains more crucial than ever.