1. An Alarming Human Toll
During the month of March 2026 alone, ACAT-Burundi documented the discovery of 11 lifeless bodies across the country. The report details killings marked by extreme violence: victims beaten to death (with clubs and sticks), bodies bearing severe head injuries, or found floating in rivers (Kaniga, Nyakigezi, Kaburantwa). The provinces of Gitega and Bujumbura remain the most affected by this wave of insecurity.
2. Criminal Methods and Staged Scenarios
ACAT-Burundi denounces a worrying trend of staged suicides. Victims such as Marie Nahayo (80 years old) and Béatrice Mpawenimana were found hanged under circumstances strongly suggesting disguised murders. In addition, abductions persist, as illustrated by the case of Gabriel Ndikumana, a driver for the NGO World Vision, who has been missing in Bujumbura since February 23, 2026.
3. Torture as a Tool of Repression
The report highlights the responsibility of agents of the National Intelligence Service (SNR) and members of the Imbonerakure youth league in systematic acts of torture. ACAT-Burundi reveals the existence of nighttime transfers of detainees aimed at concealing the critical health condition of prisoners subjected to severe abuse, in direct violation of the Penal Code.
4. A Systemic Failure of the Criminal Justice Chain
The organization points to a blatant violation of Article 109 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. In nearly all cases, administrative authorities proceed with hasty burials without identifying the bodies or conducting judicial investigations. This passivity of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, coupled with endemic corruption, ensures total impunity for perpetrators, particularly when victims belong to the political opposition.
5. Calls to Action
Faced with what the organization describes as a “takeover of the Judiciary by the Executive,” ACAT-Burundi calls for:
• The Government: The dismantling of illegal Imbonerakure patrols and the protection of citizens exclusively by official security forces.
• The Judiciary: The immediate opening of independent investigations into each body discovered.
• The International Community: Increased vigilance regarding the risk factors of a general deterioration of human rights in Burundi.
Please find below the full monthly report for March 2026:
Monitoring report on human rights and abuses documented by ACAT Burundi for March 2026
