This monitoring report, published by ACAT-Burundi, documents human rights violations and abuses committed in Burundi during the month of January 2026. It is part of the organization’s ongoing monitoring and advocacy efforts since the outbreak of the political and security crisis in April 2015, a crisis that remains unresolved and continues to seriously undermine the rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights in Burundi.
During the reporting period, ACAT-Burundi recorded at least seventeen cases of killings, one case of enforced disappearance, several instances of arbitrary arrest, as well as acts of torture and ill-treatment. These violations occurred across various provinces of the country and were perpetrated in a context of widespread and persistent impunity. In most documented cases, the alleged perpetrators have not been subject to effective judicial proceedings.
The report highlights a deeply concerning pattern characterized by the repeated discovery of lifeless bodies, often unidentified, found in rivers, fields, bushes, or other isolated locations. These discoveries are frequently followed by hasty burials without prior judicial investigation, in clear violation of the Burundian Code of Criminal Procedure. Such practices seriously undermine the rights to truth, justice, and reparation for victims and their families.
According to the findings, the documented violations are attributed, depending on the case, to state agents, members of the defense and security forces, as well as members of the ruling party’s youth league, the Imbonerakure. The report also underscores the persistence of torture in detention facilities and the continued use of arbitrary arrests, particularly targeting individuals perceived as political opponents or socially marginalized groups.
Through this report, ACAT-Burundi reaffirms its commitment to combating torture, extrajudicial killings, and all forms of human rights violations. The organization calls on Burundian authorities to comply with their national and international obligations, to ensure the opening of credible, independent, and impartial investigations, and to put an end to impunity. ACAT-Burundi also urges the international community to maintain heightened attention and vigilance regarding the human rights situation in Burundi.
Please find below the full report:
Monitoring Report on Human Rights Violations and Abuses Documented by ACAT-Burundi for January 2026
