Burundi bans sixth human rights organisation in three months

Burundi has banned another human rights organisation from operating in the country after banning five others in October.

The oldest rights organisation in the country, Ligue Iteka, has been banned by Burundi’s Ministry of Interior for “sowing hatred and division within the Burundian community.”

A statement signed by the interior minister Pascal Barandagiye said the rights organisation’s recalcitrance necessitated the complete ban decided by a Commission of Inquiry.

However, the chairman of Ligue Iteka, Anshaire Nikoyagize, said the activities of the organisation will not be affected in any way by the ban.

“This suspension will not in any way hamper the attainment of the association’s goals. We will keep informing the national and international community even if the threats against us continue to increase,” he said.

Ligue Iteka was temporarily suspended together with three others on October 24, 2016 while five others including – Forum for the Strengthening of Civil Society (FORSC), The Forum for Awareness and Development (FOCODE), Christian Action for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT), Association for Protection of the Human Rights and Detained persons (APRODH) and Network of Honest Citizens (RCP) were banned completely.

The sanctions, according to the government, are due to deviations by the organisations from their missions.

“These associations are rather busy tarnishing the image of their country and stirring up hatred and division between Burundians,” Barandagiye said in October.

In November, Ligue Iteka in partnership with the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) published a report accusing the government of repression and state-sponsored violence.