Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you for your commitment, ladies and gentlemen. We thank you very much.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  The issue of child soldiers was not a concern back then, but today, we are very worried by the hate-based education targeting children at a young age, in elementary school. Those children are singing the Imbonerakure hate chants. It should also be pointed out that, in the case of

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  As Mr. Niyongere was saying, certain regional aspect have to be considered in the ongoing crisis in Burundi. We already see that Interahamwe militia who participated in the Rwanda genocide are currently in Burundi. Very recently, attacks in Rwanda originating in Burundi have been

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I'll answer in Mr. Niyongere's place. The Arusha accord provided for the creation of defence and security forces [Technical difficulty—Editor]. Some of those security and defence forces are being ethnically radicalized, particularly the national intelligence service, which is th

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you for your question. It seems to us more and more that defence forces and security forces are politicized. A number of generals from the old CNDD-FDD rebellion are the real leaders of the party in power. When we list those in charge and those who really have power in Bur

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you. Most of the victims whose cases we've identified through the Ndondeza campaign are opposition activists, usually members of the MSD party or Agathon Rwasa's FNL party. Most of them protested against President Nkurunziza's third term, in the city of Bujumbura and other

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you for the question. Independent media have played a major role in the crisis. That explains why those in power have gone after the media, with state defence and security forces setting fire to independent radio stations. Since the crisis began, many journalists have gon

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you for the question. The website for the Ndondeza campaign against enforced disappearances in Burundi is www.ndondeza.org. There, you will find the cases we've documented. The purpose of the campaign isn't so much to compile statistics. The goal is actually to put a face

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Yes, absolutely. We've already heard from the national police force and the national intelligence service that agents of the state are refusing to participate in these crimes out of fear the Ndondeza campaign will expose them. We are also seeing growing secrecy around abductio

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen of the committee, it is an honour to appear before you to report on the current situation in my country of Burundi. I recognize the importance of this opportunity, especially since I do not have the right to speak before my own country's parliamen