Burundi Government’s Defiant Move: Walking Out on UN Review

Defiance: Burundi Government Walks Out on UN Review

July 5, 2023, 4:55 AM EDT

In a display of brazen contempt for human rights, the Burundian authorities walked out of the country’s review before the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva this week. The government objected to the presence of members of civil society, whom they deemed to be “criminals convicted by Burundian justice.” The Committee stood firm, maintaining that individuals accredited by the UN Human Rights Office had the right to attend a public meeting. In response to the government‘s refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue, the session proceeded without their presence.

A Shattered Judiciary

The Burundi government‘s claim that the civil society members in attendance were “criminals convicted by Burundian justice” is deeply concerning. It raises serious questions about the independence and fairness of the country’s judiciary. One civil society activist present at the session, Armel Niyongere, is among twelve exiled human rights defenders and journalists who were convicted without due process for allegedly participating in a coup attempt in May 2015. The defendants were not given the opportunity for a fair trial and were denied legal representation, a clear violation of their right to due process.

The crackdown on civil society and media in Burundi began in 2015 during a political crisis, which prompted many human rights defenders and journalists to flee the country. Since then, the Burundian government has refused to engage meaningfully with the UN’s human rights mechanisms and has been openly hostile towards civil society activists, journalists, and human rights defenders.

A Culture of Non-Cooperation

The government‘s refusal to attend the second day of the UN Committee Against Torture’s special session in 2016, meant to review allegations of torture and other abuses, shocked the international community. This act of non-cooperation, coupled with the shutdown of the UN human rights office in Burundi and the refusal to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur on Burundi, demonstrates a pattern of defiance and a lack of willingness to address human rights concerns.

Despite the election of a new president in May 2020, the Burundian government has shown no signs of reversing its hostile stance towards civil society and the media. Floriane Irangabiye, a journalist, is currently imprisoned in violation of her right to freedom of expression.

The Need for Reform and International Pressure

If the Burundian authorities are serious about reform, they must abandon these unjust convictions, cooperate with international human rights experts, and give serious consideration to the recommendations made by the UN Human Rights Committee. The European Union, as well as Burundi‘s other international partners, have a crucial role to play in holding the government accountable. They should make it clear, through public statements and concrete requests, that their confidence in Burundian authorities will only be restored when they genuinely respect the rights of the media and civil society. Cooperation with international bodies tasked with scrutinizing their human rights record is a necessary step towards achieving this goal.

It is incumbent upon the international community to put pressure on the Burundian government to reverse its stance on human rights and create an environment conducive to the protection and promotion of these rights. Without meaningful engagement and respect for the rule of law, Burundi will continue to be plagued by human rights abuses and civil unrest.