The parliament in Burundi appointed a new leadership for its national human rights commission late Monday, following the exile of its previous head and rising tensions with international human rights observers.
The overhaul comes in the wake of damning accusations from international rights groups that have long charged Burundi’s government with stifling civil society, opposition voices, and independent media. Although the National Independent Human Rights Commission has typically been seen as aligned with the government, it surprised many in January by publishing a report documenting hundreds of rights violations.
Following the release of that report, the commission’s then-president, Sixte Vigny Nimuraba, came under fire from National Assembly president Gelase Daniel Ndabirabe and was later accused of corruption. Nimuraba fled into exile shortly afterwards.
On Monday, after extended debate, the National Assembly confirmed a completely new seven-member board to lead the commission. The new chair is Bishop Martin Blaise Nyaboho, known for previously voicing strong opposition to government critics.
During the parliamentary session, Ndabirabe seized the opportunity to denounce Fortune Gaetan Zongo, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Burundi. Zongo’s most recent report, published in August, highlighted “widespread impunity enjoyed by perpetrators of human rights violations… the deteriorating security situation… and the increase in the number of cases of enforced disappearance and arbitrary arrest.”
In a statement to the newly appointed commission, which was shared on social media, Ndabirabe declared: “Your mission will be to fight and bring down Fortune Gaetan Zongo… and put an end to these unjust accusations of human rights violations.”
According to both a diplomatic source and local media, Nimuraba fled to Europe last month after security forces, including the National Intelligence Service and police, reportedly searched his home.
Pacifique Nininahazwe, a human rights advocate now living in exile, criticised the parliamentary move, telling AFP that it was unlawful under Burundian law to dismiss commissioners before their mandate ended. He also questioned the credibility and qualifications of the new appointees.
“They are the worst team ever put in place,” he said, alleging that all seven had close ties to the ruling party and lacked experience in the field of human rights.
This incident adds to a troubling trend. Earlier this year, two members of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission—tasked with investigating historical ethnic violence—also fled the country. Pastor Clement Noe Ninziza and Aloys Batungwanayo reportedly left Burundi in February after being accused of passing “intelligence to the enemy,” according to internal sources and local media reports.
