SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, May 6, 2025 – The National Assembly approved on Monday the appointment of seven new commissioners to steer the Independent National Human Rights Commission (CNIDH). The appointment of Monsignor Nyaboho as chairperson raises serious questions, as the commission, long criticized for its lack of independence, had struggled to regain its A status.

The National Assembly of Burundi approved the appointment of the new members, marking a new era for an institution that has lost credibility in recent years. At its top is Monsignor Martin Blaise Nyaboho, Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Makamba (southern Burundi), who will retire from the clergy next August.

This appointment comes at a time of profound questioning of the CNIDH’s independence. Already downgraded to B status by the United Nations, the commission had struggled to regain its A status through restructuring efforts, now undermined by a hasty reorganization. The collective resignation of the former commissioners, amid internal disagreements, triggered this new appointment.

Of the 21 candidates initially in the race, seven were selected. Monsignor Nyaboho was elected chairperson with 93 out of 114 votes (81.5%). Gérard Rugemintwaza was appointed vice-chairperson and Béatrice Nkurunziza secretary. The other members are Dr. Jean Bosco Manirambona, Ambassador Issa Ntambuka, Gloriose Nimenya, and Dyna Ndayumvire. The team is composed of four Hutus and three Tutsis, an ethnic balance that the authorities present as a guarantee of inclusivity, even though critics point to a lack of diversity of opinions and backgrounds in human rights.

In his remarks, the speaker of the National Assembly, Daniel Gélase Ndabirabe, urged the new commissioners to restore trust and place human rights at the center of their work. He reiterated the Parliament’s commitment to supporting the CNIDH in carrying out its missions.

A controversial past divides opinions

In Makamba, the appointment of Monsignor Nyaboho is far from unanimous. While he enjoys a reputation as a religious leader, his background is a source of concern. His supposed closeness to the CNDD-FDD, the ruling party, and some of his past positions fuel doubts about his ability to embody an independent CNIDH.

In 2015, while chairing the Makamba Independent Provincial Electoral Commission (CEPI), he strongly criticized the parents of two teenagers killed during protests against the controversial term of the late President Pierre Nkurunziza.
« These children who confront the police deserved nothing more, » he declared during a mass, sparking outrage.

In 2019, he supported forced citizen contributions to finance the 2020 elections, recommending depriving those who refused to pay of services.

Challenges and expectations

Despite these uncertainties, some Makamba residents hope that Bishop Nyaboho will demonstrate impartiality. His term begins as the CNIDH must regain the trust of a population often left to their own devices in the face of human rights violations.

Observers consider the challenge immense. The sudden departure of the former chairperson of the CNIDH, forced into exile with his family, and the political pressures weighing on the institution demonstrate the fragility of Burundi’s civic space.

A human rights defender based in Bujumbura, where UN agencies and the central administration are concentrated, believes that « we can’t expect much from this team, because its members don’t have a background in human rights protection. » « But that’s precisely what we’re asking of them : to protect human rights and operate with complete independence. »

The small east African nation remains under the scrutiny of the international community, which expects concrete actions from the new team to demonstrate its commitment to human dignity.

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Monsignor Martin Blaise Nyaboho, new chairperson of the CNIDH