Burunga : pupils forced to abandon school to serve political propaganda

SOS Médias Burundi

Makamba, February 9, 2026 – In Burunga province, southern Burundi, several pupils were prevented from attending classes last Saturday to welcome the First Lady, Angeline Ndayishimiye, who came to participate in a so-called “health sport” event.

According to school sources, messages were sent to school administrators prohibiting pupils from attending school. Children, particularly primary school pupils, were lined up along the roads to applaud the First Lady’s passing, some even being ordered not to wear their school uniforms.

This situation has shocked parents and unions.

The FENASEB (National Federation of Unions in the Education Sector of Burundi) denounces this practice, which deprives children of their fundamental right to education and exposes them to inappropriate political pressure. Emmanuel Manuma, a union member of FENASEB, had already raised the alarm earlier in the week, emphasizing that these maneuvers seriously compromise the quality of education.

Pupils transported to Gitega in the middle of the night

Consistent reports indicate that pupils from the Technical School of Automotive Maintenance (ETMA), located in the provincial town center of Burunga, were transported to Gitega, the country’s political capital, last January to participate in activities on the sidelines of the CNDD-FDD congress, which elected Révérien Ndikuriyo as head of the ruling party for a second term. Since then, a climate of fear has prevailed within the school. The director and some teachers, suspected of having leaked this information, are being threatened, and the director risks losing his job.

A clear violation of the right to education

This situation unequivocally demonstrates that the authorities continue to exploit Burundian students for political ends, violating their fundamental right to education in this small east African nation.