Front Line Defenders Africa Protection Coordinator detained at Burundi border
Two days after he was detained at the DRC-Burundi border and taken to a detention facility in Bujumbura, Front Line Defenders East & Southern Africa Protection Coordinator, Aloys Habimana, has been released from the custody of the Service National de Renseignements (SNR – National Intelligence Services). Front Line Defenders has welcomed the release of its staff member, who is known across Africa for his decades of work in defense of human rights.
For further information please contact Erin Kilbride:
erin@frontlinedefenders.org
+353857423767
Aloys Habimana is Front Line Defenders’ Protection Coordinator for east and southern Africa and has worked with the Irish organisation since 2012. Prior to working with Front Line Defenders, Aloys Habimana was deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Africa Division and previous to that, he worked to monitor and document human rights abuses in his native Rwanda.
Two days after he was detained at the DRC-Burundi border and taken to a detention facility in Bujumbura, Front Line Defenders East and Southern Africa Protection Coordinator, Aloys Habimana, was released this afternoon from the custody of the Service National de Renseignements (SNR – National Intelligence Services). Front Line Defenders welcomes the release of its staff member, who is known around the continent for his decades of work in defence of human rights.
Aloys has worked with the Irish organisation since 2012 as Protection Coordinator for its work with activists at risk in Africa. Prior to working with Front Line Defenders, Aloys was deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Africa Division and previous to that, he worked to monitor and document human rights abuses in his native Rwanda.
Front Line Defenders Executive Director Andrew Anderson announced Aloys' release saying, “The expressions of solidarity and support for Aloys from human rights defenders across Africa during his detention are a testament to the hundreds of activists he has supported in the region.”
On 17 February 2018, Aloys was detained in Burundi at the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at approximately 12pm, on his way to meet with human rights defenders in the DRC. Another person with whom he was travelling was also detained, and has also been released.
For further information please contact Erin Kilbride:
erin@frontlinedefenders.org +353857423767
“The expressions of solidarity and support for Aloys from human rights defenders across Africa during his detention are a testament to the hundreds of activists he has supported in the region.” - Andrew Anderson, Executive Director, Front Line Defenders
More than 24 hours after he was detained at the DRC-Burundi border and taken to a detention facility in Bujumbura, Front Line Defenders East & Southern Africa Protection Coordinator, Aloys Habimana, remains in custody of the Service National de Renseignements (SNR – National Intelligence Services). To date, no one has been able to speak to or visit Aloys, but a lawyer who visited SNR headquarters reports that he has heard that Aloys has been treated well. Front Line Defenders is working to secure the release of Aloys and his colleague who was detained with him. We will provide updates as we have them.
On 17 February 2018 Front Line Defenders staff member Aloys Habimana was detained in Burundi at the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo at approximately 12pm. Another person with whom he was travelling was also detained. It is believed that they are currently being held by the Service National de Renseignements (SNR – National Intelligence Services) in Bujumbura.
For further information please contact Erin Kilbride:
erin@frontlinedefenders.org +353857423767
Aloys Habimana is Front Line Defenders’ Protection Coordinator for east and southern Africa. He has worked with the Irish organisation since 2012. Prior to working with Front Line Defenders, Aloys Habimana was deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Africa Division and previous to that, he worked to monitor and document human rights abuses in his native Rwanda.
At around midday on 17 February 2018, Aloys Habimana and a person with whom he was travelling were detained in Gatumba in Burundi as they prepared to cross the border into the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to local human rights defenders, they were taken by the SNR and are believed to be held in Bujumbura. At present there are no further details concerning their whereabouts. The SNR has been responsible for numerous cases of torture and ill-treatment of human rights defenders and political opponents and as such, serious concerns exist for the well-being of Aloys Habimana and his travel companion.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Burundi to:
1. Immediately and unconditionally release Aloys Habimana and his travel companion.
2. Ensure that the treatment of Aloys Habimana and his travel companion while in detention adheres to the conditions set out in the ‘Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment', adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 43/173 of 9 December 1988;
3. Cease targeting all human rights defenders in Burundi and guarantee in all circumstances that they are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.
