Burundi: Prisoners from 2015 Unrest Will Not Be Released After Serving Sentences

BUJUMBURA, Burundi - December 26, 2025 - President Evariste Ndayishimiye has announced that individuals imprisoned for crimes committed during the 2015 political unrest will remain in prison even after completing their sentences. The announcement was made during a meeting with Bishop Martin Blaise Nyaboho, President of the National Commission for Human Rights (CNIDH), who raised concerns about the prolonged detention of some individuals, including those acquitted or who had served short terms.

President Ndayishimiye explained that a final decision on releases will be guided by a list from the Minister of Justice, but emphasized that individuals deemed criminals during the 2015 unrest will remain incarcerated. He stated, “Criminals because of the ongoing crime, if you release them, they will return to work with these criminals… People did evil here in 2015, then they were sentenced to a short term, today you release them and you find that they have returned to work with others.”

The 2015 unrest, sparked by Pierre Nkurunziza’s controversial third term, involved protests and attempts to overthrow the government. Those targeted for continued imprisonment include individuals prosecuted for their role in these events, with charges primarily related to threats against national security.

Under Burundian law, the Head of State has limited authority in cases of release, though the Supreme Court can grant pardons. President Ndayishimiye’s decision highlights the government’s continued caution in addressing security concerns tied to the events of 2015.