August 20, 2025 — Tournons La Page Burundi and forty-five other national and international human rights organizations addressed an open letter to the member and observer states of the United Nations Human Rights Council. In it, they express their “deep concern” over the persistence of a climate of impunity and the serious and systematic human rights violations taking place in the country.

According to these organizations, extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, acts of torture, sexual and gender-based violence, as well as severe restrictions on civic space remain widespread.

The letter also highlights the political context marked by the legislative and municipal elections of June 5, 2025, held without genuine opposition and marred by irregularities, confirming, according to the signatories, the “ongoing political stranglehold.”

Ten years after the 2015 crisis, the NGOs note that no structural reforms have been undertaken to address the shortcomings in governance, justice, and respect for the rule of law.

In light of this situation, civil society urges the Human Rights Council—scheduled to hold its 60th session from September 8 to October 8, 2025—to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Burundi and to maintain close monitoring. It also calls on the UN to put pressure on Bujumbura to ensure “full and meaningful” cooperation with international human rights protection mechanisms.