Burundi Senate president targets police officers

Gitega: Senate President Gervais Ndirakobuca stated on October 29, 2026, that some judicial police officers (OPJ) are acting with impunity, disregarding laws and overstepping their authority. He explained that OPJs are wrongly classifying cases as closed, a power reserved for prosecutors, and are even using their positions to recover civil debts through coercion and bribery.

Ndirakobuca urged the Minister of the Interior, Léonidas Ndaruzaniye, to transfer OPJs who are not performing their duties correctly, citing public fear over their abuses and the need to break up established networks. He also highlighted instances where OPJs ignore their superiors, leading to a lack of hierarchical control in some communes.

The Senate President announced plans to collaborate with the public to set traps for corrupt OPJs as part of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy. He also noted that some transferred OPJs manage to return to lucrative posts shortly after reassignment, indicating a need for stronger oversight and accountability within the police force.

Why it mattersBurundian citizens are directly affected by the alleged abuses and corruption of judicial police officers, including unlawful detention and debt recovery.

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