Frédéric Bamvuginyumvira, a Burundian political prisoner, sits in jail in total injustice and disregard of the law. His lawyers, working pro-bono, need financial support to take this case to the regional and international courts, the only hope for Frédéric’s release.

On Thursday, December 5, 2013, a black tinted SUV intercepted Mr. Frédéric Bamvuginyumvira, former vice-president of Burundi and leading opposition figure, on his way home from visiting a friend in a hospital in Bujumbura. Two armed men in civilian clothes jumped out of the SUV and asked Frédéric and Josephine (a family friend and opposition party member he had given a ride) to show their IDs and the vehicle identification documents. Frédéric handed over the demanded documents. An envelope that contained Fbu 200,000 (about $130) which was kept with other documents in Frédéric’s car was among the papers handed over to the armed individuals. One of the armed individuals – later identified as Etienne Ntamavukiro –forced himself into the car and asked Frédéric to drive to Bujumbura’s mayoral office.

On the way to the mayor’s office, Etienne asked Frédéric to pay Fbu 10,000,000 (about $6,500) if he wanted to go home free. Frédéric responded that all the money he had on him were the $130. Etienne was not satisfied with the $130. Etienne, the armed kidnapper, was not interested in the $130.

Arrived at the mayor’s office, Frédéric was asked to bring all the documents with him in the building.  Later those who intercepted Frédéric will make up charges that he was arrested while committing adultery and had tried to bribe the arresting mayor’s agents with the $130 so that they could drop the adultery charges.

After days in detention in what amounts to a chicken coop at a local jail, open to the elements and without access to full sanitary facilities, Frédéric and Josephine were brought to court.  At court on December 9, 2013, the government alleged that Frédéric and his friend had been caught in the act of prostitution, without any supporting evidence.  The charges of act of prostitution/adultery were dropped due to the lack of evidence. Josephine, the female friend was let go; but in an incomprehensible twist, Frédéric was charged with corruption and remanded to the main prison by the magistrate. Many wondered how he could be guilty of corruption to cover up a crime he did not commit.  

At further hearing on December 19, 2013, Frédéric was afforded bail by the court.  The money and his release, however, were refused in total disregard of legal procedures. Today, Frédéric remains behind bars without any apparent legal authority.  His political colleagues have all concluded that his detention is politically motivated.

As a political prisoner, Frédéric has little chance of seeing justice done in Burundi. His lawyers have now decided to take Frédéric’s case to the East African Court of Justice, the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, the United Nations’ Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and other international bodies.

These lawyers who are working pro-bono need financial support to carry the case forward, on the regional and international stages, and see to it that Frédéric is freed. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.