were arrested at the airport on their way to Uganda for a meeting. A fifth activist, Prosper Runyange, was arrested in Ngozi and transferred to Bujumbura. They were charged with rebellion, undermining internal state security and undermining the functioning of public finances, all on account of their human rights work.4 In late April, Sonia Ndikumasabo and Marie Emerusabe were acquitted of all charges, and the rest were found guilty of rebellion and given oneyear suspended sentences. All five were released. ARBITRARY ARRESTS AND DETENTIONS Christophe Sahabo, managing director of Kira Hospital in Bujumbura, remained in detention, having been arrested in April 2022 and later charged with several economic crimes. There were repeated delays in the judicial proceedings. ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES Reports of enforced disappearances continued throughout the year, with the main alleged perpetrators continuing to be the National Intelligence Service (SNR) and members of the ruling party’s youth wing, the Imbonerakure. Most victims were political opponents – members of the CNL and the Movement for Solidarity and Democracy – although members of the ruling National Council for the Defence of Democracy-Forces for the Defence of Democracy in conflict with the party hierarchy were also reported missing. The government rejected UPR recommendations to ratify the International Convention against enforced disappearance. RIGHT TO LIFE Burundian human rights organizations continued to document the regular discovery of lifeless bodies, often with marks of violence, in rivers and bushes around the country. The UN Special Rapporteur on Burundi and the UN Human Rights Committee expressed concern that bodies were often buried in haste, without their 114 identities being established or investigations into the circumstances of their deaths. RIGHT TO TRUTH, JUSTICE AND REPARATION In March, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission began public hearings. Its president told the media that the role of these hearings was to “reinforce and confirm the truth already found in the archives through mass graves and testimonies, but also in doctrine and published works” and to allow more people to express themselves. Accusations of bias against the Commission, due to its focus on the massacres of 1972, continued. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights shared its 2022 decision in favour of victims of violence by the police and the SNR during the 2015 protests, and requested the government to investigate and prosecute those responsible; apologize publicly to all victims; and provide adequate compensation, medical assistance and psychological support. DISCRIMINATION On 22 February, 24 people were arrested in the political capital, Gitega, at a workshop on economic inclusion. They, and two others later added to the case, were prosecuted on charges of “homosexuality” and “incitement to debauchery”. Seven were found guilty in August. Nine of the people acquitted were not immediately released, and one whose health had deteriorated in detention, died before the prosecutor agreed to sign his release papers. On 1 March, President Ndayishimiye made discriminatory and homophobic remarks at the national prayer breakfast, describing “homosexuality” as a “curse”. On 29 December, he said that LGBTI people found in Burundi “should be stoned”. The UN Human Rights Committee expressed concern about allegations of incitement of hatred and violence against people on the grounds of their sexual orientation and gender identity, including by state authorities and political leaders. The Committee called on the The State of the World’s Human Rights