BURUNDI Republic of Burundi Journalists, human rights defenders and activists were arrested and prosecuted in violation of the rights to a fair trial, and to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. Government officials interfered in the internal affairs of the main opposition party. Arbitrary arrests and detentions, and cases of enforced disappearance and violations of the right to life continued to be reported. Accusations of bias within the Truth and Reconciliation Commission persisted. High-level officials promoted discrimination and incited violence on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as against single mothers. Although violence against women remained a concern, reporting and prosecution of such crimes continued to be low. Measures taken by the government exacerbated the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, and the right to health was undermined. Almost 74,000 people remained internally displaced, most of them by natural disasters. Returning Burundian refugees and asylum seekers faced intimidation, extortion and arbitrary detention. BACKGROUND Former prime minister Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni was convicted on 8 December on charges including undermining the internal security of the state, undermining the proper functioning of the national economy, illegal taking of interest, illegal possession of weapons and insulting the president. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.1 In accordance with the 2018 constitution, the senate evaluated whether to continue with ethnic quotas in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. The government rejected many pertinent recommendations made during its UPR in May.2 The State of the World’s Human Rights In July, the government delegation walked out of its review session at the UN Human Rights Committee, objecting to the presence of a human rights defender convicted in his absence on false accusations of participating in the 2015 coup attempt. The UN Special Rapporteur on Burundi said the National Independent Human Rights Commission’s reports “gloss[ed] over politically sensitive issues”. The armed group RED-Tabara claimed responsibility for an attack in Vugizo sector next to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 22 December and said that it killed nine soldiers and one policeman. The Burundian government said 20 people were killed, including 19 civilians. President Ndayishimiye accused neighbouring Rwanda of supporting the armed group, which Rwanda denied. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, ASSOCIATION AND ASSEMBLY Journalist Floriane Irangabiye was convicted of “undermining the integrity of the national territory” on 2 January and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Her conviction, based on comments made on an online radio show, was upheld on appeal in May. A longstanding medical condition was exacerbated by her detention conditions in Muyinga prison and she requested a transfer to Bujumbura, where she was initially arrested, to be closer to her family and to have access to more appropriate medical care.3 In October, she was moved to Bubanza prison, 40km from Bujumbura. In June, the minister of interior suspended all activities of the main opposition party, the National Congress for Liberty (CNL), apart from meetings aimed at resolving internal party tensions. The CNL leadership and other observers accused the minister of interfering in the internal affairs of the party. There were regular arrests of CNL members accused of holding unauthorized meetings. HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS On 14 February, human rights defenders Sonia Ndikumasabo, Marie Emerusabe, Audace Havyarimana and Sylvana Inamahoro 113