Burundi: UN slams repression of NGOs by government

The United Nations has criticised the ongoing repression of Non Governmental Organisations in Burundi.

Experts have described president Pierre Nkurunziza’s actions against NGOs as alarming.

After banning some NGOs, a new bill passed by the National Assembly last December called on NGOs to obtain authorisation from the interior minister for all their activities as well as trace all funds to the NGOs through the Central Bank.

Reports from human right defenders say the measures are being used to obstruct and criminalise their work.

Some human rights defenders have been forced to leave Burundi while those who do not want to leave are facing torture, threats and disappearance.

Burundi has been under severe chaos since 2015 after Nkurunziza won a controversial third term.