Burundi suspends 10 civil society groups as crisis deepens
by Duncan Miriri,
2015-11-24 11:39:48.0
NAIROBI — Burundi’s interior minister suspended 10 civil society groups, accusing them of fuelling widespread violence in recent months, a senior official said on Tuesday.
The turmoil in the East African nation was sparked by a decision by President Pierre Nkurunziza to seek a third term in a disputed July vote.
Terence Ntahiraja, the permanent secretary in the interior ministry, told Reuters via phone that the 10 groups, most of them led by prominent civil rights defenders who fled into exile, were found to have been supporting troublemakers.
"Investigations have revealed their involvement in disturbing security in the country," he said, adding the groups will be given a chance to defend themselves and those found to be innocent will be allowed to restart operations.
The groups include APRODH (Association for the Protection of Human Rights and Detained Persons), led by Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, who survived an assassination attempt in August.
The groups, which led the protests against Mr Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term of office, had earlier seen their bank accounts, and those of their leaders, frozen by prosecutor-general Valentine Bagorikunda.
The US will sanction four current and former Burundian government officials, including the minister of public security, over continuing violence in the country, the White House said on Monday.
Various vigilante units have been formed, and more than 200 people have been killed in violence since April.
Reuters
Pierre Nkurunziza. Picture: AFP PHOTO/ALAIN JOCARD
NAIROBI — Burundi’s interior minister suspended 10 civil society groups, accusing them of fuelling widespread violence in recent months, a senior official said on Tuesday.
The turmoil in the East African nation was sparked by a decision by President Pierre Nkurunziza to seek a third term in a disputed July vote.
Terence Ntahiraja, the permanent secretary in the interior ministry, told Reuters via phone that the 10 groups, most of them led by prominent civil rights defenders who fled into exile, were found to have been supporting troublemakers.
"Investigations have revealed their involvement in disturbing security in the country," he said, adding the groups will be given a chance to defend themselves and those found to be innocent will be allowed to restart operations.
The groups include APRODH (Association for the Protection of Human Rights and Detained Persons), led by Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, who survived an assassination attempt in August.
The groups, which led the protests against Mr Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term of office, had earlier seen their bank accounts, and those of their leaders, frozen by prosecutor-general Valentine Bagorikunda.
The US will sanction four current and former Burundian government officials, including the minister of public security, over continuing violence in the country, the White House said on Monday.
Various vigilante units have been formed, and more than 200 people have been killed in violence since April.
Reuters
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