Jean Baptiste Baribonekeza, former chairperson of the National Independent Human Rights Commission, CNIDH, Cyrille Sibomana, Arcade Harerimana are accused of having “released prisoners detained for rape and murder, particularly in the context of the presidential pardon whereas those concerned should not benefit from it”, according to a presidential decree released on Thursday. They were also dismissed from their posts on Thursday.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Jean Baptiste Baribonekeza was until Thursday, head of office in charge of legal affairs and governance in the office of President Neva, Cyrille Sibomana, a close friend of the first lady Angeline Ndayishimiye, was head of the department of legal monitoring and drafting of legal texts at a time when Arcade Harerimana was legal advisor in charge of monitoring state litigation. Both services are under the orders of the head of the department of legal affairs and governance.

In a presidential decree released on Thursday, it is mentioned that the three officials of the Burundian presidency were dismissed for « treason », for having released « criminals who were not on the list of those who should benefit from presidential clemency ».

A prisoner receives a release ticket from the hands of President Évariste Ndayishimiye (SOS Médias Burundi)

The decree explains that they tarnished the image of the highest authority in the country.

« They are held in the intelligence dungeons in Bujumbura. They were arrested on Thursday, » a Burundian official told SOS Médias Burundi, on condition of anonymity.

The operation to decongest prisons was launched on November 14, 2024 and continued until the end of December. Local associations denounced an activity « tainted by many irregularities ».

The three detainees are accused, among other things, of having released prisoners prosecuted for cases of rape and murder.

« People prosecuted for this category of crimes were excluded from this pardon, » the decree says.

The concerned released these two categories in the prisons of the provinces of Bururi and Rutana in the southeast of the small East African nation.

The act of treason is punishable by a sentence of more than 20 years in prison in Burundi.

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Jean Baptiste Baribonekeza, former chairperson of the Independent National Human Rights Commission and head of the department of legal affairs and governance in the office of President Neva, one of the three officials detained by Burundian intelligence (SOS Médias Burundi)