URGENT ALERT: IMMINENT THREATS TO THE LIFE OF CLÉMENT NKURUNZIZA, DETAINED IN NGOZI PRISON, BURUNDI
By URN HITAMWONEZA
To the attention of human rights organizations, embassies, international institutions, and the global community,
We are issuing an urgent appeal of unprecedented gravity concerning the critical situation of Clément Nkurunziza, arbitrarily detained in Ngozi Prison, Burundi, since March 2018. Extremely alarming information, received from a reliable source close to the prison administration, indicates that Clément Nkurunziza’s life is in immediate danger and that concrete actions are planned for his disappearance.
Direct Threats and Risk of Forced Transfer: A Life-or-Death Situation
The situation has taken a dramatic turn. Following allegations made by Clément Nkurunziza regarding the disappearance of prisoners, the director of Ngozi Prison reportedly issued direct and chilling threats against him. According to recent and verified testimonies, the director stated that these allegations did not intimidate him and that Clément Nkurunziza could “follow” the other disappeared detainees at any time. These remarks are even more disturbing as they were reportedly accompanied by ethnically charged comments, suggesting that if Clément Nkurunziza considered himself the only Tutsi, he would be removed for others to remain. These words are not mere verbal threats; they are a macabre declaration of intent, revealing a clear desire to harm.
These threats are corroborated by a serious warning: Clément Nkurunziza has been informed, by a reliable internal source, that he risks being extracted from prison under the false pretext of a “transfer.” In reality, he would be taken by the police or the National Intelligence Service (SNR) to an unknown and potentially fatal fate. This method, known as “enforced disappearance,” is a documented practice in Burundi to silence dissenting voices. The constant surveillance he is subjected to, with individuals following him everywhere in prison, confirms the preparation of this operation. The urgency is absolute: Clément Nkurunziza himself has expressed that he does not have much time left, emphasizing the need for immediate and decisive intervention.
Background: Prolonged Arbitrary Detention and Flagrant Injustice
Clément Nkurunziza, a respected former student leader and human rights defender, has been arbitrarily detained since March 22, 2018. His ordeal began upon his deportation from the United States to Burundi. His arrest, which occurred without a warrant and in the presence of American Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, marked the beginning of an illegal detention that has lasted for over seven years. Throughout this period, he has had no access to a lawyer and has never been tried, in flagrant violation of Burundian law and international human rights conventions, particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention Against Torture.
His exile in 2015 followed his call for the then-president not to seek a third term, an act of civic courage that was perceived as dissent. The tense political context of the time plunged Burundi into a crisis marked by violence and massive human rights violations. Unproven allegations, instrumentalized by Burundian government supporters, concerning his involvement in student killings in the 1990s, served as a pretext for his deportation and prolonged detention, without any independent investigation or fair trial to substantiate these accusations. It is clear that his detention is politically motivated and aims to silence him.
Alarming Prison Conditions in Burundi: An Environment Conducive to Abuse
Clément Nkurunziza’s situation is exacerbated by the deplorable prison conditions in Burundi. Reports from national and international organizations, such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and U.S. State Department reports, paint an alarming picture: chronic overcrowding, severe lack of medical care, unsanitary conditions, endemic corruption, and regular violence. These conditions are often described as “deadly” and constitute a direct violation of detainees’ rights to dignity, health, and life.
Tragic incidents, such as the Gitega central prison fire in 2021 that claimed the lives of 38 detainees, are brutal reminders of the danger of these detention facilities. Furthermore, persistent allegations of torture, ill-treatment, and even extrajudicial executions of political prisoners or alleged opponents are regularly reported by human rights organizations. These practices, often attributed to intelligence services, police, and militias linked to the ruling party, create a climate of fear and impunity within penitentiary establishments. In this context, the threats made against Clément Nkurunziza must be taken with the utmost seriousness.
The Ambiguous Role of the United States and International Responsibility
The involvement of the United States in Clément Nkurunziza’s deportation raises significant ethical and legal questions. How can a country that prides itself on being a champion of human rights deport an asylum seeker to a country where his life and freedom are clearly threatened, and this, in the presence of its own agents? This action had direct and dramatic consequences for Clément Nkurunziza, handing him over to Burundian authorities who immediately incarcerated him without respecting legal procedures. This deportation has placed the United States in a position of moral and political co-responsibility for Clément Nkurunziza’s current fate.
The United States has an imperative responsibility to closely monitor Clément Nkurunziza’s fate and to use its influence to demand his release. Its inaction so far is perceived as abandonment and a blatant contradiction with the values it claims to uphold. It is imperative that Washington re-evaluate its role in this matter and take concrete measures to rectify this injustice, particularly by intervening directly for his protection.
Urgent Call to Action: Every Minute Counts
Given this unacceptable situation and the imminent threat to Clément Nkurunziza, an urgent appeal is launched to the international community, human rights organizations, and governments, particularly those of the United States and the European Union, to act without delay:
1.Immediate and Direct Intervention: Demand from Burundian authorities the immediate protection of Clément Nkurunziza and the cessation of all threats against him. This includes direct communications with President Évariste Ndayishimiye and the director of Ngozi Prison, Christian Sibomana.
2.Guarantees Against Forced Transfer: Request formal guarantees that Clément Nkurunziza will not be forcibly transferred and that he will have access to a lawyer of his choice and a fair trial, in accordance with international standards.
3.Diplomatic Pressure and Sanctions: Exert increased diplomatic pressure for his immediate and unconditional release. Targeted sanctions against those responsible for arbitrary detention and threats against Clément Nkurunziza should be considered.
4.Visits by Independent Observers: Urgently dispatch independent observers, particularly from the ICRC, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, or organizations like International Bridges to Justice, to visit Clément Nkurunziza at Ngozi Prison and ensure his physical and mental integrity, as well as the conditions of his detention.
5.Emergency Legal Assistance: Mobilize lawyers and legal organizations (such as the Bujumbura Bar Association, APRODH, ASF) to provide immediate legal assistance and challenge the legality of his detention and the threats.
6.Continued Awareness and Mobilization: Maintain the visibility of Clément Nkurunziza’s case through media and social networks, in order to mobilize public opinion and exert constant pressure on Burundian authorities.
Clément Nkurunziza’s life is at stake. Every minute counts. We urge you to act without delay to prevent a tragedy and uphold the fundamental rights of this man. Silence and inaction are not an option.
Useful Contacts:
APRODH (Burundian Association for the Protection of Human Rights and Detained Persons)
•Email: aprodh@hotmail.com ; contact@aprodh.org
•Phone: +257 79 92 31 35
Amnesty International (general contacts)
•Phone (United Kingdom): +44-20-74135500
•Phone (United States): 1-800-AMNESTY (1-800-266-3789)
•Email (United States): aimember@aiusa.org
Human Rights Watch (media contacts)
•Phone (New York): +1-212-216-1832
U.S. Embassy in Burundi
•Phone: +257 22 20 7000 (ext. 7225)
•Emergency After-Hours Phone: +257 79 938 841
•Email (American Citizen Services): BujumburaACS@state.gov
•Email (Public Affairs): burundipublicaffairs@state.gov
Delegation of the European Union to Burundi
•Email: delegation-Burundi@eeas.europa.eu
•Phone: +257 22 20 22 00
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) – Burundi
•(Search for local contact if possible, otherwise the general ICRC contact)
Bujumbura Bar Association / Ordre des Avocats de Bujumbura
•Email: cea.barreau.burundi@gmail.com
•Phone: +257 22 24 39 45
We remain at your disposal for any further information and to coordinate actions.