UIA mission to Bujumbura to support legal profession in Burundi

On December 11, 2013, Former Bar President Issouf Baadhio went to Bujumbura on a 4-day mission aimed at showing the UIA and the entire legal profession’s support to Burundi’s lawyers and especially to Bar President Isidore Rufyikiri.

Following a press conference held on October 29, Mr. Rufyikiri was prosecuted because of the statements he made in his capacity as a Bar President concerning the revision of the Constitution. Proceedings were brought against him on the basis of the 2002 Act related to the legal profession, for having allegedly made statements that were “contrary to regulations, State  security and public peace”.

The mission conducted by the UIA included a meeting with the Deputy Prosecutor at the Bujumbura Court of Appeal during which our organisation expressed its concern in view of the difficulties the Bar President Rufyikiri is facing in the course of fulfilling his duties.

In addition, several meetings with other institutional actors, including the Gitega Bar and international bodies in Burundi, highlighted the obstacles faced in the organisation of the profession as a whole and the tensions prevailing between the Bars of different Courts of Appeal.

The UIA intends to continue focusing on this issue and closely following the judicial proceedings initiated against Mr. Rufyikiri.

Please find below the related press release (only in French).