UN Human Rights Chief Warns: Burundi Risks Sliding Into Ethnic Violence

GENEVA —
Burundi’s human rights situation has come under sharp scrutiny at the United Nations Human Rights Council, despite strong objections from its government. The Council expressed deep alarm over the surge in abuses following last year’s political crisis and warned that the country could face ethnic violence with grave consequences for Central Africa if the situation continues to deteriorate.

The U.N. and the government of Burundi hold fundamentally opposing views about the state of the country, one year after President Pierre Nkurunziza secured what critics call an unconstitutional third term in office.

Accusations and Denials

While Burundi’s government accuses the U.N. of spreading falsehoods, U.N. Human Rights Chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has voiced serious concern over what he described as a “terrible reality” unfolding on the ground.

In his report to the Human Rights Council, Zeid accused government forces and affiliated militias of carrying out killings, disappearances, and arbitrary arrests. He said he is increasingly worried about signs of ethnically motivated violence.

“In the past six weeks, several former members of the Burundian armed forces — known as ex-FAB — have been murdered, possibly because of their Tutsi ethnicity,” Zeid reported. “We’ve also received alarming reports of inflammatory speeches from members of the ruling party’s youth wing, the Imbonerakure, inciting violence against political opponents with strong ethnic undertones.”

Given Burundi’s history of conflict between Hutus and Tutsis, Zeid warned that such rhetoric could prove explosive.

Government Response

Presidential adviser Willy Nyamitwe rejected the allegations, insisting that the Imbonerakure are not a militia.

“They have no weapons and they are not killing people,” Nyamitwe told VOA. “Claims that they intimidate or murder citizens are baseless. We need facts — not rumors.”

He accused Rwanda and Belgium of attempting to destabilize Burundi through international advocacy groups like the International Crisis Group and Human Rights Watch.

“This is a campaign of distortion and lies,” Nyamitwe said. “Burundi is not the first African country targeted by outside powers seeking regime change. The allegations of mass killings or genocide against Tutsis are simply false.”

Human Rights Trends Worsening

The U.N. pushed back against those denials. Spokeswoman Cécile Pouilly said that human rights monitors in Burundi collect and verify evidence through a wide local network.

“While we’ve seen fewer extrajudicial executions recently, other human rights violations are rising,” Pouilly said. “There’s an increase in arbitrary arrests, detentions, torture, and ill-treatment, particularly in facilities run by the National Intelligence Service, police, and army.”

She added that grenade attacks targeting security forces have also become more frequent, while displacement continues both inside the country and across its borders.

“The ongoing crisis is destabilizing the entire region,” she warned, echoing the High Commissioner’s repeated alerts about the risk of regional spillover.

Calls for Justice and Dialogue

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has announced a preliminary examination into the violence in Burundi — a move welcomed by Zeid.

He urged the Burundian authorities to hold perpetrators accountable and to engage in inclusive national dialogue as the only viable path toward restoring peace and stability.