From May 4 to 8, 2026, a delegation of independent Burundian civil society organizations participated in the 139th session of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances held at the Mövenpick Hotel in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Through this international advocacy mission, the organizations sought to bring renewed international attention to the issue of enforced disappearances in Burundi and to amplify the voices of victims and their families.
The delegation included Léopold Sharangabo, President of CDH/VICAR; Me Janvier Bigirimana, Secretary General of FOCODE; Béatrice Nibogora, Vice-President of the association Abacu bari he? / Where Are Our Loved Ones?; and Gordien Niyungeko, Executive Secretary of FOCODE. Their participation demonstrated the continued commitment of Burundian civil society to defending human rights and supporting families affected by enforced disappearances.
During the session, the delegation presented alarming information regarding enforced disappearances documented in Burundi since 2015 through the #Ndondeza campaign, meaning “Help Me Find Mine.” According to FOCODE, at least four hundred cases of enforced disappearances have been documented, including more than two hundred cases reported under the presidency of Évariste Ndayishimiye. Human rights organizations and international protection mechanisms estimate that the actual number of cases may be much higher.
The representatives stressed that behind these statistics are human lives marked by suffering and uncertainty. Families continue to endure the pain of not knowing the fate or whereabouts of their loved ones. Mothers, spouses, children, and relatives remain trapped in prolonged anguish caused by the absence of truth, justice, and accountability. The delegation aimed to ensure that these experiences would not continue to be ignored by the international community.
This advocacy initiative took place in a particularly sensitive political context as Burundi approaches the 2027 presidential elections. Human rights defenders expressed concern that electoral periods in Burundi have historically been associated with political repression, arbitrary arrests, abductions, enforced disappearances, and violence against dissenting voices or individuals perceived as political opponents.
On the sidelines of the session, the delegation conducted advocacy meetings and networking activities with members of the United Nations Working Group and other international human rights actors. These discussions focused on strengthening international attention on Burundi and encouraging concrete measures to combat impunity and improve the protection of victims and their families.
Three parallel events were also organized during the session to address critical issues related to enforced disappearances. Discussions focused on access to justice for victims and their families, the humanitarian and psychological consequences of disappearances, and the strengthening of capacities for human rights defenders involved in documentation, protection, and advocacy work.
Through its participation in Abidjan, CDH/VICAR and partner organizations reaffirmed that no lasting peace or sustainable stability can be achieved while enforced disappearances remain unresolved. The organizations reiterated that families of victims have the right to truth, justice, reparations, and guarantees of non-repetition. States and international institutions must uphold their commitments and take concrete action to address enforced disappearances in Burundi.
