Global rights group condemns the suspension of 5 NGOs in Burundi

The International Federation for Human Rights has condemned the suspension of five rights NGOs by Burundi’s government.

The five rights protection non governmental organizations were suspended on 24 October through a ministerial decree.

Burundi’s government withdrew permits of a prominent human rights organisation and several other non-profit groups, accusing them of stirring up hatred and tarnishing the nation’s image, an order issued by the Interior Ministry said.

The government further had said that the NGOs were involved in activities that were considered to disrupt the state security.

The Federation warned that the suspension could lead to fatal human rights abuse in the central African country, which has also notified the UN of its decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court.

Not-profit and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have often been accused of taking sides against the government in a political crisis that has rumbled on since last year over President Pierre Nkurunziza’s re-election for a third term.