Burundi: scandal at the CNIDH, a senior official implicated in a disappearance case

SOS Media Burundi

Bujumbura, June 16, 2026 – The National Independent Human Rights Commission (CNIDH) is at the center of a new controversy. Officials within the institution are calling for the cancellation of the planned trip to Geneva, from June 20 to July 1, 2026, by the Secretary General, Ms. Chantal Bakamiriza, whom they associate with an ongoing investigation into a disappearance.

In a letter dated June 12, 2026, and addressed to the President of the CNIDH, Bishop Blaise Nyaboho, five signatory officials — Didace Sunzu, Ornella Mugisha, Félix Muhimpundu, Félicité Rukundo, and Philbert Manirakiza — are calling for the suspension of this official mission.

According to them, the Secretary General is implicated in the case of the disappearance, on February 25, 2026, of Chadia Mukaremera, an employee of the National Independent Human Rights Commission (CNIDH). They assert that Chantal Bakamiriza was the last person to have been in contact with the victim before her disappearance, as she was on her way to work.

The signatories believe that the ongoing legal proceedings require caution. They fear that traveling abroad could complicate the investigation and hinder the pursuit of the truth.

They also point out that the Secretary General is among those already questioned by investigators, on a list of six people interviewed in this case.

In their letter, the CNIDH staff emphasize that this is not their first attempt at contacting her. A similar request was submitted in March 2026, without success.

They are therefore asking the president of the CNIDH to postpone the planned trip to Geneva, believing that this decision would preserve the institution’s image and ensure a favorable environment for the investigation to continue.

An institution already weakened by internal tensions

This new controversy comes amid significant tensions within the CNIDH. The institution has recently been marked by internal crises and turmoil related to its governance.

It remains particularly affected by the departure of its former president, Dr. Sixte Vigny Nimuraba, which occurred in April 2025 amidst internal tensions and suspicions of wrongdoing. According to several sources, he left the country under disputed circumstances and has been in Switzerland ever since.

These events have led to a reshuffling of the CNIDH’s leadership, now headed by Bishop Blaise Nyaboho, in an institutional environment still marked by internal disagreements.

A case that damages the image of the CNIDH

The disappearance of Chadia Mukaremera continues to raise many questions within the institution. The signatory officials believe that the information available at this stage justifies the suspension of all international missions involving individuals named in the case.

👉 Read the background of the case :

A response awaited

At the time of publication, the CNIDH leadership had not yet responded to these accusations.