Overview

Journalists, human rights defenders and activists were arrested and prosecuted in violation of the rights to a fair trial, and to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. Government officials interfered in the internal affairs of the main opposition party. Arbitrary arrests and detentions, and cases of enforced disappearance and violations of the right to life continued to be reported. Accusations of bias within the Truth and Reconciliation Commission persisted. High-level officials promoted discrimination and incited violence on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as against single mothers. Although violence against women remained a concern, reporting and prosecution of such crimes continued to be low. Measures taken by the government exacerbated the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, and the right to health was undermined. Almost 74,000 people remained internally displaced, most of them by natural disasters. Returning Burundian refugees and asylum seekers faced intimidation, extortion and arbitrary detention.