A/HRC/54/61
November 2021 and April 2023. The Government also provided information on the status of
various criminal proceedings.
5.
Burundi
23.
On 7 October 2022, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 51/28 calling upon
the Government to refrain from acts of intimidation or reprisal against human rights
defenders, including those who are cooperating with international human rights mechanisms
and the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/RES/51/28, OP 7).
24.
The cases of human rights lawyers Mssrs. Armel Niyongere, Dieudonné
Bashirahishize, Vital Nshimirimana and Lambert Nigarura have been included since
2017 in the reports of the Secretary-General33 on allegations of the disbarment of three of the
lawyers and suspension of one following their cooperation with the Committee against
Torture during the consideration of a special report on Burundi in July 2016. 34
25.
Mssrs. Niyongere, Bashirahishize and Nshimirimana were among individuals
previously accused of participating in an insurrectional movement and attempted coup d’état.
They were sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment and ordered to pay financial
compensation (A/HRC/51/44, para. 83), which reportedly involved the seizure of financial
assets and properties of their families. According to information received by OHCHR, as of
30 April 2023 the three lawyers have not been able to obtain a copy of the Supreme Court’s
judgement issued in February 2021, impeding their efforts to challenge it. Mssrs. Niyongere,
Bashirahishize and Nshimirimana remain in exile due to fear of further reprisals.
6.
Cameroon
26.
The case of civil society organization Organic Farming for Gorillas Cameroon
(OFFGO) has been included since 2020 in the Secretary-General reports35 on allegations of
reprisals following a communication by special procedures mandate holders (CMR 3/2019).
Special procedures mandate holders 36 have addressed, on several occasions allegations,
alleged reprisals against OFFGO members, including the expulsion from the country of
Mr. Jan Joris Capelle, a Belgian national and co-founder of the organization, threats against
Mr. (Prince) Vincent Awazi, a traditional chief; and death threats and attacks against
Mr. Elvis Brown Luma Mukuna, the lawyer of OFFGO, and his relatives. In her 2021
report,37 the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders addressed the case
of Mr. Luma Mukuna and his relatives.
27.
On 10 October 2022, the Government responded38 to mandate-holders (CMR 4/2022),
providing information related to the inquiries by the General Prosecutor of the North-West
region on the situation of Mr. Luma Mukuna and the legal proceedings involving
Mr. Capelle. In her 2023 report to the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on the
situation of human rights defenders 39 noted OFFGO’s case, highlighting the important
support of the diplomatic community in the country. According to information received by
the OHCHR, on 12 July 2022, Mr. Capelle received two summons to appear before the Court
of Mbengwi on 5 and 22 October 2022. However, when he submitted his visa application on
18 August 2022 to the embassy of Cameroon in Belgium, the request was denied. Due to the
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
48
A/HRC/36/31, Annex I, paras. 11–15; A/HRC/39/41, Annex II, paras. 12–13; A/HRC/42/30, Annex
II, paras. 13–14; A/HRC/45/36, Annex II, para. 10; A/HRC/48/28, Annex II, para. 13; A/HRC/51/47,
Annex II paras. 26–27.
CAT/C/BDI/CO/2/Add.1, paras. 33 and 34. See also INT_CAT_RLE_BDI_24877_F and
INT_CAT_RLE_BDI_24878_F.
A/HRC/45/36, Annex I para. 53, Annex II paras. 21–23; A/HRC/48/28, Annex II paras. 14–16;
A/HRC/51/47,Annex II paras. 28 and 29.
CMR 4/2022, CMR 5/2019.
A/HRC/46/35, para. 76.
See government reply at:
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=37222.
A/HRC/52/29 para. 107.
GE.23-15378