UN appointed experts on Monday raised serious concern over a sharp rise in grave human rights violations in Burundi, pointing to attacks on political opponents.
According to them, these abuses were allegedly committed by state agents or individuals operating with their backing, fostering a climate of unchecked impunity.
From January 2024 to May 2025, civil society groups recorded at least 200 cases of sexual violence with child rape inclusive. They also recorded 58 enforced disappearances, 62 instances of torture, 892 arbitrary arrests, and 605 extrajudicial killings, a stark reflection of the worsening situation.
The experts warned that such violations appear to be systematically used to silence and intimidate citizens during elections, ultimately serving the ruling CNDD-FDD party. In the June polls, the incumbent party claimed a staggering 96 percent of the vote and secured all 100 parliamentary seats, further tightening its grip on power.
