On the margins of the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, a large delegation of Burundian civil society organizations met on Thursday, 17 September 2026, with the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.
The meeting, held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, brought together several Burundian organizations, including FOCODE, Ligue Iteka, ACAT, Association Abacu Barihe, Tournons la Page, King Umurundi Freedom, and SOS-Torture, as well as representatives of international partners, including the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).
The discussions focused on the persistence of enforced disappearance cases in Burundi, the need to strengthen their monitoring and documentation, and the importance of early-warning and protection mechanisms for individuals exposed to human rights violations.
Participants expressed particular concern about the lack of adequate responses from the Burundian authorities to several reported cases of disappearance, as well as the silence or lack of response from the National Independent Human Rights Commission (CNIDH) regarding certain reported cases. The discussions also addressed cooperation with United Nations mechanisms and the need to maintain independent monitoring of reported situations.
The Working Group emphasized the importance of the work carried out by civil society organizations in monitoring and documenting cases. Its members also indicated that they were closely following developments in the human rights situation in Burundi, particularly those relating to enforced disappearances.
In this context, various documentation and early-warning initiatives were presented, including the UMUSEKE programme, implemented by Ligue Iteka and King Umurundi Freedom. The programme aims to strengthen mechanisms for early warning and documentation of human rights violations and to contribute to better information on reported situations.
As the 2027 presidential election approaches, civil society organizations also emphasized the importance of increased vigilance and strengthened monitoring of the human rights situation. Concerns were raised about the risk of violations targeting political opponents, civil society actors, and other individuals expressing views critical of the authorities.
The discussions also addressed developments in the regional context, including the potential repercussions of the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo on Burundi and the wider region.
Representatives of Burundian civil society reaffirmed their commitment to continuing the rigorous documentation of facts, monitoring reported cases, and strengthening early-warning mechanisms in order to contribute to the prevention of violations and better protection of individuals at risk.
The Working Group also announced that it would continue its engagement with Burundian human rights defenders, including during an upcoming session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Through these exchanges, one concern remains central: to obtain answers regarding the fate of missing persons and to strengthen mechanisms to prevent further violations.