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