Burundi
As of February 2026, the human rights situation in Burundi remains of "serious concern," according to UN experts and international monitors. While President Évariste Ndayishimiye’s 2020 election initially raised hopes for reform, the country has instead seen a solidification of one-party rule and a narrowing of civic space, particularly following the June 2025 legislative and communal elections.
The following are the primary human rights issues currently facing Burundi:
1. Political Repression and the 2025 Elections
The legislative and communal elections held in June 2025 were characterized by international observers as "elections without opposition."
Dominance of the CNDD-FDD: The ruling party won roughly 96% of the vote amid widespread reports of intimidation. Key opposition figures were barred from running, and members of the National Council for Liberty (CNL) faced systemic harassment.
The Imbonerakure: The ruling party’s youth league continues to operate as a paramilitary force. In 2025 and early 2026, they have been implicated in "mob justice," enforced disappearances, and the intimidation of citizens perceived as critical of the government.
2. Crackdown on Media and Journalists
Press freedom has seen a sharp decline, marked by the "judicial weaponization" of laws against reporters.
The Sandra Muhoza Case: In a major blow to media freedom, journalist Sandra Muhoza was sentenced to four years in prison in January 2026. She was convicted of "undermining the integrity of the national territory" after sharing a WhatsApp message discussing the alleged distribution of weapons to pro-government youth.
Institutional Opacity: Since late 2025, the National Assembly has implemented new restrictions, including a mandatory "access card" for journalists that is nearly impossible to obtain, effectively barring independent media from covering legislative activities.
Decriminalization vs. Reality: While some press offenses were technically "partially decriminalized" in 2024, journalists still face charges of "endangering state security" and "racial aversion" for routine reporting.
3. Systematic Abuses and Impunity
UN experts have warned of an "alarming upsurge" in grave violations throughout 2025 and into 2026.
Enforced Disappearances: Between January and August 2025 alone, civil society groups documented 26 cases of enforced disappearances, often involving victims being abducted in vehicles with tinted windows.
Torture in Detention: Credible reports from organizations like SOS-Torture Burundi highlight the use of torture in National Intelligence Service (SNR) cells. Prisoners, including high-profile detainees like Dr. Christophe Sahabo, are reportedly denied adequate medical care.
Extrajudicial Executions: Over 600 alleged extrajudicial killings were documented by civil society between early 2024 and mid-2025, with almost no perpetrators held to account.
4. Extreme Socioeconomic and Humanitarian Vulnerability
Burundi remains one of the poorest countries in the world, with its rights crisis exacerbated by economic collapse.
Economic Distress: Double-digit inflation (exceeding 26%), fuel shortages, and a lack of foreign currency have severely limited the population's access to food and basic goods.
Climate Displacement: As of 2026, over 86,000 people remain internally displaced, primarily due to climate-related disasters like the flooding of Lake Tanganyika.
Refugee Pressure: Over 250,000 Burundians remain in exile. In early 2026, there is intense pressure on those in Tanzania to "voluntarily" repatriate, despite concerns that they face arrest or disappearance upon return.
5. LGBTQ+ and Minority Rights
Stoning Rhetoric: In late 2023, President Ndayishimiye stated that LGBTQ+ individuals should be "taken to stadiums and stoned." This rhetoric has fueled a climate of fear, leading to increased arbitrary arrests and extortion of the LGBTQ+ community in 2024 and 2025.
Criminalization: Same-sex sexual acts remain illegal, carrying up to two years in prison. While some mass acquittals occurred in early 2024, new arrests for "homosexuality" and "incitement to debauchery" continue to be reported in 2026.
"Concubinage" Crackdown: Authorities in several provinces have conducted campaigns against "concubinage" (unmarried cohabitation), leading to the forced eviction of thousands of women and children from their homes.