FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION Authorities violated media freedom on several BURUNDI occasions and failed to protect journalists. In March, Ladji Bama, editor of the newspaper Republic of Burundi Le Courrier confidentiel, was ordered to pay Head of state: Evariste Ndayishimiye damages of 2 million XOF (US$3,620), after Head of government: Alain Guillaume Bunyoni a complaint filed by the ruling party in Burkina Faso for “defamation”. In November The authorities failed to respond 2020, Ladji Bama’s car had been fired upon appropriately to the Covid-19 pandemic and outside Dori. In a subsequent Facebook post, to protect the right to health. Some he had accused the ruling party of measures against human rights defenders, involvement in the attack before filing a activists and journalists were lifted – complaint for “assassination attempt” against including the release of prisoner of unnamed persons. At the end of the year, no conscience Germain Rukuki – but threats, judicial developments had been reported intimidation and politically motivated following this complaint. prosecutions continued. Some returning Following the attack against the town of refugees faced intimidation. The authorities Solhan in June, the Higher Communications failed to respect and protect women’s rights Council suspended the Omega media group’s and violated the right to privacy. Enforced radio and TV programmes for five days for disappearances, unlawful killings, torture, “misreporting” the attack after it claimed that arbitrary arrests and detentions continued. IDPs from Solhan were ambushed on the The Truth and Reconciliation Committee road to Dori. In a letter, the Council also (TRC) faced accusations of bias and the threatened Radio France Internationale with judiciary’s independence was undermined. suspension for their coverage of the attack BACKGROUND and the government’s response to it. RIGHT TO HEALTH There was a major shift in Burundi’s relationships with international partners. Burkina Faso launched a national Covid-19 Political dialogue with the EU resumed and vaccination campaign in June, but failed to relations with Rwanda improved. meet its target of vaccinating 70% of the In May, the AU Peace and Security Council population, the coverage being just 1.6% by ended the mandate of its human rights December. Access to vaccines in remote observer mission in Burundi, and the UN regions and IDP settlements was limited closed the Office of the Special Envoy of the because of the conflict. Secretary-General for Burundi. In October, According to the ICRC, access to health in the UN Human Rights Council terminated the conflict-affected regions was hindered by the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi’s health personnel leaving because of the mandate, which was replaced by a special violence. rapporteur. Burundi’s National Independent Human Rights Commission regained its “A” 1. Burkina Faso: In the Wake of the Solhan Massacre, the Priority Must status in June, despite civil society concerns. Be to Protect the People (Index: AFR 60/4249/2021), 7 June Security incidents increased, including attacks on civilians in Bujumbura and the capital, Gitega, in May and September, and on road travellers in Muramvya province in May and June. Humanitarian assistance was required by 2.3 million people. Burundi remained one of the 20 countries most vulnerable to climate change. More than 52,000 people were Amnesty International Report 2021/22 108