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UK Special Envoy to the African Great Lakes, Danae Dholakia, calls on Burundian government to protect prisoners’ human rights and stop abuses.

Ms Dholakia said:

The UK shares the grave concern of the international community over the treatment of prisoners in Burundi. We continue to hear widespread reports of arbitrary arrest and killings; disappearances; and torture. The death of former Rwandan Ambassador Jacques Bihozagara in prison in Bujumbura on 31 March is another example of the failure of the Burundian authorities to protect the human rights of those detained by the security forces. While we welcome the return of his body to his family, there now needs to be a full investigation into his death.

We urge the Government of Burundi to comply quickly and fully with UN Security Council Resolution 2279 and take steps to end these horrendous abuses, including providing unfettered access to international human rights monitors and the United Nations police contribution agreed in the resolution.

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