Burundi Government: Targeting Banyamulenge Community Over Spy Claims

• Burundian authorities presented 13 individuals, mostly Banyamulenge refugees and pastors, accusing them of spying for Rwanda and armed groups in eastern DRC.
• Ministry of Security spokesperson Pierre Nkurikiye publicly urged Burundians to monitor the Banyamulenge community and cease renting them housing.
• The accused face charges including espionage, undermining state security, and using forged documents, with allegations of exploiting religious networks.
• Relatives and congregants dispute the accusations, asserting that the pastors are not involved in politics and are being unfairly targeted.
• The government's actions have raised significant concerns about the Burundi government targeting Banyamulenge community, particularly among refugees.

This instruction has sparked significant concern among the Banyamulenge, many of whom sought refuge in Burundi to escape violence and instability in eastern DRC, highlighting a troubling escalation in the Burundi government's targeting of the Banyamulenge community.

Burundian authorities recently presented thirteen individuals, predominantly Banyamulenge refugees, to journalists on October 9, accusing them of espionage for Rwanda and various armed groups operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The group, which included several pastors, was displayed in handcuffs at the National Intelligence Service (SNR) headquarters in Bujumbura, Burundi's commercial capital. This public presentation followed nearly a month of detention for the suspects, comprising eleven men and two women.

During the event, Pierre Nkurikiye, spokesperson for the Ministry of Security, issued a controversial directive to the Burundian populace. He explicitly called for citizens to actively monitor members of the Banyamulenge community, urging them to cease renting housing to them, particularly within Bujumbura. This instruction has sparked significant concern among the Banyamulenge, many of whom sought refuge in Burundi to escape violence and instability in eastern DRC, highlighting a troubling escalation in the Burundi government's targeting of the Banyamulenge community.

The individuals face a range of serious national security charges, including espionage for an enemy entity, undermining state security, utilizing forged documents, and actions detrimental to the national economy. Authorities assert that these alleged spies collaborated with regional armed factions such as the AFC/M23, Red-Tabara—a Burundian armed group based in eastern DRC—and Twirwaneho, which is primarily composed of fighters from the Congolese Tutsi minority, the Banyamulenge.

Furthermore, the Burundi government's espionage accusations extend to claims that some suspects exploited religious networks to facilitate the production and circulation of counterfeit documents. This specific allegation links their religious affiliations to the broader national security concerns, adding another layer to the complex legal context surrounding their arrests.

Relatives and congregants of those detained have vehemently rejected the accusations, denouncing what they perceive as a targeted campaign against their religious leaders. They argue that the presence of church branches in eastern DRC does not inherently justify suspicions of espionage, emphasizing that their churches are not involved in political activities. A close associate of one of the implicated religious leaders stated that the arrested pastors have no political ties, asserting that accusing them of espionage merely due to their congregations in places like Goma is unjust.

This sentiment underscores a broader concern within the Banyamulenge community, where individuals feel unjustly associated with politics and Rwanda simply because of their ethnic identity as Tutsis. A community leader, who has been a refugee in Burundi since 2008, stressed the importance of examining each accusation individually and with due respect, highlighting the heightened vulnerability and fear among Banyamulenge refugees Burundi.

Among the prominent figures presented were Mark Ntayoberwa, the head of the Stone Evangelical Church, whose Burundian headquarters are in Ngagara, Bujumbura. His church also maintains branches in Goma and Bukavu, capitals of North Kivu and South Kivu respectively, areas that have been under AFC/M23 control since early 2025, and where the church's founder resides, coinciding with AFC/M23's headquarters.

Gédéon Nzayitegaho, pastor of the Carmel Church in Mutakura, Bujumbura, was also among the Burundi pastors arrested. His church has a presence across several Burundian provinces, including Ngozi, Ruyigi, Fota, and Rutana. Another key detainee is Jalos Nkunda Kilaya, who leads the Evangelical Church in the Great Lakes Region (EEPGL). He was reportedly apprehended on September 8 at Bujumbura International Airport while attempting to travel to Kigali, Rwanda, allegedly in possession of a Rwandan passport. His wife and a student living with him were subsequently arrested during a security service search focused on a phone, with various unverified sources describing Nkunda Kilaya as a double agent.

Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware of the Burundian government's explicit call for public discrimination and monitoring against the Banyamulenge community, which significantly increases the risk of arbitrary detention, human rights violations, and potential persecution for individuals identified as Banyamulenge or associated with them in Burundi. This development necessitates heightened due diligence and legal counsel for clients operating in or with ties to Burundi, particularly concerning human rights and refugee law.

Source: Original reporting via independent news sources