Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye continues to govern with an unyielding “wave of repression,” Amnesty International reported on Wednesday.
Despite initial hopes for change when he assumed office four years ago, the situation for human rights defenders, journalists, and opposition members remains dire, with ongoing intimidation, harassment, arbitrary detention, and unfair prosecution.
Ndayishimiye took power in June 2020 following the unexpected death of President Pierre Nkurunziza.
While the international community initially praised him for gradually ending years of isolation under Nkurunziza’s chaotic and violent rule, concerns about human rights abuses persist.
Nkurunziza’s controversial bid for a third term in 2015 led to protests and a failed coup, resulting in at least 1,200 deaths and forcing around 400,000 people to flee the country.
Amnesty International noted that Ndayishimiye’s early presidency showed signs of loosening the grip on civil society and the media.
Several rights campaigners and journalists were released during his first year in office, raising hopes for a more open and tolerant governance.
However, these hopes have been dashed by the continued repression.
Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty’s regional director for East and Southern Africa, stated that the ongoing wave of repression has stifled any meaningful change in the government’s approach to civil society and human rights issues.
When contacted by AFP, Burundi government spokesman Jerome Niyonzima did not address the report’s substance, instead requesting a list of “those oppressed.”