BUJUMBURA, Burundi — Burundi’s parliament on Monday elected new members to the executive committee of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (CNIDH), replacing the previous leadership amid ongoing investigations into allegations of financial misconduct.
Out of 114 applicants who submitted their credentials to the National Assembly, 21 met the eligibility criteria, including 12 from the Hutu ethnic group and nine from the Tutsi ethnic group. The full parliament, comprising 114 members, voted to elect seven individuals from the shortlisted candidates, with ethnic balance factored into the selection.
The new members are Gloriose Nimenya from Rumonge Province, Beatrice Nkurunziza from Mwaro Province, and Dyna Ndayumvire from Gitega Province, all of Tutsi descent; and Monseigneur Martin Blaise Nyaboho, an Anglican bishop from Gitega Province, Dr. Jean Bosco Manirambona from Rutana Province, Ambassador Issa Ntambuka from Bujumbura Province, and Gérard Rugerintwaza from Kirundo Province, all of Hutu descent.
Nyaboho was elected president of the commission, with Rugerintwaza as vice president and Nkurunziza as secretary. The remaining members will serve as commissioners.
The new commission takes over from the body previously led by Sixte Vigny Nimuraba, who headed the CNIDH from 2019. Nimuraba fled the country before completing his second term. Allegations emerged accusing him of embezzling commission funds, though no official reports have been made public to confirm the claims.
National Assembly Speaker Daniel Gelase Ndabirabe said the elections were held as part of efforts to ensure continuity while investigations proceed. He tasked the new commission with prioritizing the protection of Burundians facing violence abroad.
The CNIDH, established to promote and safeguard human rights in Burundi, is regarded as a critical institution at a time when the country continues to address both domestic and international human rights concerns.
