Burundi's former premier accused of undermining state security

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – Burundi’s former Prime Minister Alain Guillaume Bunyoni faces three charges, including undermining state security, the country’s prosecution office said Monday.

“He is being prosecuted for undermining internal security of the state, sabotaging functioning of the national economy and abuse of power for undue personal benefits,” Agnes Bangiricenge, the spokesperson for the general prosecutor's office told reporters.

Speaking for the first time about the reasons for the arrest, Bangiricenge said the former premier is being held at the National Intelligence Service in the commercial city of Bujumbura.

“His family has not yet been able to see him but they could visit him very soon,” she said.

The government confirmed Bunyoni’s arrest on Saturday, days after reports said he had gone missing.

Last week, the National Independent Human Rights Commission confirmed it had visited Bunyoni on April 22 and stated that he had not suffered any acts of torture or abuse since his arrest.

Security and Internal Affairs Minister Martin Niteretse had told reporters on Wednesday that the country’s prosecutor general had launched a search for the former premier.

He was reportedly arrested in Kabezi commune in western Burundi on April 21 days after police failed to find him at his home during a search authorized by the attorney general.

Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye sacked Bunyoni in September last year following allegations of a possible coup plot against him.

Bunyoni, a former police chief, has long been a senior figure in the ruling CNDD-FDD party.