AGP Executive Report

UN Rights Council: Burundi won a 2027–2029 seat with 160 votes, but the election drew criticism because candidates ran unopposed. Human Rights Watch has warned that Burundi’s record, including killings and disappearances, raises concerns about its place on the council. US Deportations: Twelve migrants from Angola, Cameroon, Mauritania and Sudan were reportedly sent to Burundi in August under a US third-country deportation deal. Sources said they are under intelligence supervision in Bujumbura, although authorities had previously said the agreement had not yet been implemented. DR Congo Conflict: Burundian soldiers were reportedly among forces that left positions in South Kivu after M23-linked drone attacks. The reports have not been independently verified, but the fighting is close to Burundi’s border. Diplomacy: President Évariste Ndayishimiye and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed bilateral ties, including healthcare, agriculture and development cooperation, on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.

Regional Diplomacy: President Evariste Ndayishimiye met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi. They discussed health, agriculture, economic cooperation and development ties. UN Human Rights Council: Burundi won a seat for 2027–2029 with 160 votes, but rights groups condemned the uncontested election and warned that countries with poor records were elected. Eastern DRC Security: Reports say Burundian troops and allied forces abandoned positions in South Kivu after drone attacks attributed to M23; the claims have not been independently verified. State Security: Authorities presented 13 people, mostly Banyamulenge refugees, as alleged spies linked to Rwanda and armed groups. Relatives disputed the accusations, while officials urged Burundians to monitor the community.

Burundi–India Ties: President Évariste Ndayishimiye met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BRICS summit, discussing trade, agriculture, health and development cooperation, as well as plans for an India-Africa summit. UN Rights Council: Burundi won a 2027–29 seat with 160 votes, but faced criticism from Human Rights Watch and other groups because the African slate was uncontested and Burundi’s rights record remains under scrutiny. Eastern Congo Conflict: A UN envoy urged parties to turn peace commitments into action as violence and humanitarian needs worsen. Burundi is among the forces involved in the conflict, while China called for a ceasefire and stronger African-led mediation. Security and Minority Rights: Burundian authorities accused 13 people, mostly Banyamulenge refugees, of spying for Rwanda and armed groups; relatives disputed the claims. A security official also urged the public to monitor Banyamulenge and stop renting them homes.

UN Human Rights Council: Burundi was elected to a 2027–29 seat on Tuesday. Human Rights Watch had warned that the uncontested vote would return the country despite its record of alleged abuses, including killings and disappearances. Security and Rights: Authorities presented 13 detainees, mostly Banyamulenge refugees, as alleged spies for Rwanda and armed groups in eastern Congo, and urged residents not to rent homes to Banyamulenge. Relatives dispute the accusations, which have raised concerns about the group being targeted. Eastern Congo: A UN envoy says aligned US- and Qatar-led peace efforts offer a chance to ease the conflict, though fighting and humanitarian conditions continue to worsen. Reporting has also raised concerns about the impact of Burundian-backed operations near Minembwe on Banyamulenge civilians. Anti-Corruption Drive: President Évariste Ndayishimiye launched a three-month campaign to put the government’s anti-corruption strategy into practice, including through local commissions to monitor public resources.

Congo Conflict: Burundi’s military is backing Congolese forces in operations against the M23-allied Twirwaneho militia near Minembwe. The campaign has raised concern over the treatment of Banyamulenge civilians, amid reports of restricted aid and strikes on civilian sites. Security and Ethnic Tensions: Burundian authorities displayed 13 people, mostly Banyamulenge refugees, accused of spying for Rwanda and armed groups. Officials urged residents to monitor the community and stop renting homes to its members; relatives dispute the allegations. UN Rights Council: Burundi is poised to retain its UN Human Rights Council seat for another term in an uncontested vote, despite Human Rights Watch’s criticism of its record on killings and disappearances. Anti-Corruption Drive: President Évariste Ndayishimiye has launched a three-month campaign to put the government’s anti-corruption strategy into practice, including local monitoring committees. US Deportations: Burundi is among African countries that have agreed to receive third-country deportees from the United States, including asylum seekers who may face persecution if returned to their home countries.

Security and Rights: Burundi’s authorities displayed 13 people, mostly Banyamulenge refugees, accused of spying for Rwanda and armed groups in eastern Congo. The suspects deny no charges in the report, but relatives and church members dispute the allegations; a government spokesperson also urged residents not to rent homes to Banyamulenge. Anti-Corruption Drive: President Évariste Ndayishimiye launched a three-month campaign to put the national anti-corruption strategy into practice, including local commissions to monitor public resources. UN Human Rights Council: Human Rights Watch warned Burundi was poised to retain its seat in an uncontested October 12 vote, despite what it called an unchanged record of abuses, including killings and disappearances. Local Security: Rumonge officials ordered stronger night patrols after unverified reports of possible armed infiltration; no evidence presented at a security meeting confirmed a recent crossing.

Human Rights Council: Burundi is poised to retain its UN Human Rights Council seat in a vote today, but Human Rights Watch says the uncompetitive slate effectively guarantees the seat despite the government’s poor rights record. Anti-Corruption Drive: President Évariste Ndayishimiye has launched a three-month campaign to put the national strategy into practice, with local commissions planned to monitor public resources and tackle fraud and embezzlement. US Visa Restrictions: Burundi is among 14 African countries whose nationals face partial US visa suspensions, covering visitor, student, exchange and immigrant visas. Regional Investment: As African Union chair, Ndayishimiye backed a new investment platform aimed at mobilizing funding for continental projects and said security is vital to attracting investors.

Investment Drive: AU Chair Évariste Ndayishimiye backed a new African investment platform aimed at channeling capital into development projects across a market valued at $3.6 trillion. He said security and stability are essential to attracting investors, while the plan sets deadlines for financing tools and support for small businesses. Deportation Deal: Burundi has agreed to receive US deportees who are not citizens, according to Human Rights Watch, which says the wider programme has exposed migrants to arbitrary detention and risks of forced return. Refugee Support: The World Food Programme says it needs more than $30 million to sustain food aid for Congolese refugees in Burundi; without further funding, supplies could run short as early as October.

Deportation Deal: Burundi has agreed to receive migrants deported from the United States, joining a growing group of African host countries. Human Rights Watch says the policy violates international law and puts people at risk of detention or return to danger; Washington defends it as a public-safety measure. Regional Diplomacy: President Évariste Ndayishimiye told an African leaders’ summit that persistent violence is stalling development, and congratulated Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Refugee Aid: The World Food Programme says it needs more than $30 million to keep feeding Congolese refugees in Burundi, warning assistance could run short without new funding. The country hosts about 33,000 refugees at Busuma camp.

Deportation Policy: Burundi is the latest African country to agree to receive US deportees, according to a report on Human Rights Watch’s findings. The group says third-country removals violate international law and can expose migrants to detention or forced return to danger; Washington says the policy is a public-safety measure. Regional Diplomacy: Burundi was among five countries voting against renewing the UN fact-finding mission on Venezuela, whose mandate was extended for two years. President Évariste Ndayishimiye also told an African summit that persistent violence is holding back the continent’s development. Refugee Funding: The World Food Programme is seeking more than $30 million to keep food assistance flowing to Congolese refugees in Burundi, warning supplies could run short without new funding. It estimates assistance costs about $5 million a month.

Deportation Deal: Burundi is the latest African country to agree to receive US deportees, according to Human Rights Watch, which says the policy violates international law and puts migrants at risk of detention or forced return to danger. Washington defends the removals as a public-safety measure. Refugee Support: The World Food Programme is seeking more than $30 million to keep feeding Congolese refugees in Burundi, warning supplies could run short as soon as October. About 33,000 refugees are staying at Busuma camp. Diplomacy: Burundi was among five countries that voted against renewing the UN Human Rights Council’s Venezuela fact-finding mission. At an African Union gathering in Egypt, President Évariste Ndayishimiye warned that persistent violence is holding back the continent’s development and backed Egypt’s concerns over Nile water security.

Deportation Policy: Burundi has joined countries accepting migrants deported by the United States to countries where they are not citizens. Human Rights Watch says the policy violates international law and puts deportees at risk of detention and forced return. Regional Diplomacy: President Évariste Ndayishimiye backed Egypt’s position that Nile water security is an existential concern during talks at the Alamein Africa Forum, where he also warned that persistent violence is holding back African development. UN Rights Council: Burundi was among five countries voting against renewal of the UN fact-finding mission on Venezuela, whose mandate was extended for two years. Refugee Support: The World Food Programme says it needs more than $30 million to keep food aid flowing to Congolese refugees in Burundi, warning supplies could run short without new funding.

US Deportation Deal: Burundi has agreed to receive migrants deported from the United States, Human Rights Watch says. HRW calls the wider program unlawful and says deportees in other African host countries have faced detention and mistreatment. Refugee Aid: The World Food Programme is seeking more than $30 million to keep food assistance going for Congolese refugees in Burundi, warning supplies could run out as early as October. UN Vote: Burundi was among five countries opposing renewal of the UN fact-finding mission on Venezuela, whose mandate was extended for two years. Regional Diplomacy: President Evariste Ndayishimiye backed Egypt’s concerns over Nile water during talks in Alamein and warned that persistent violence is holding back African development.

Refugee Aid: The World Food Programme says it needs more than $30 million to keep feeding Congolese refugees in Burundi. Without new funds, food supplies could run short as early as October; about 33,000 refugees are living at Busuma camp. Regional Health Measures: Kenya has added travellers from Burundi to enhanced Ebola screening at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after confirming an imported case. Diplomacy: President Évariste Ndayishimiye told African leaders that persistent violence is holding back development and backed Egypt’s concerns over Nile water as an “existential issue.” He also met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during the Alamein meetings. UN Vote: Burundi was among five countries that opposed extending the UN fact-finding mission on Venezuela for two years.

Regional Diplomacy: At AU meetings in Egypt, President Évariste Ndayishimiye called for stronger African production and value addition, and backed Egypt’s concerns over Nile water security in talks with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. He also warned that persistent violence is stalling Africa’s development. UN Votes: Burundi opposed extending the UN investigation into Sudan, the only African country to vote against the renewal, and was among five countries opposing renewal of the Venezuela mission. US Relations: Burundi has agreed to accept deportees from the United States.

Regional Diplomacy: Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, serving as African Union chair, backed Egypt’s concerns over Nile water and called for African production, value addition and deeper integration at talks in Egypt. He also congratulated Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed on securing another term, pledging cooperation on regional peace and development. UN Votes: Burundi voted against renewing UN investigations into alleged human rights abuses in Sudan and Venezuela, placing it among a small group opposing both mandates. U.S. Deal: Burundi has agreed to receive some third-country deportees from the United States, with reports saying the arrangement excludes people linked to crime or terrorism.