Burundi's government should immediately reverse a new policy of deporting Rwandan asylum seekers without considering their cases. On November 27, 2009, Interior Minister Edouard Nduwimana ordered police to return 103 asylum seekers to Rwanda, in violation of international law.

Burundian authorities should immediately retract an ordinance outlawing the Forum for the Strengthening of Civil Society (FORSC), an umbrella organization representing 146 Burundian civil society associations.

Human Rights Watch writes to the Burundian Interior Minister to ask him to ensure that all Rwandan asylum seekers currently present in northern Burundi are permitted to file asylum applications, in accordance with their rights under Burundian and international law. We also urge the Minister to ensure that, in the future, all Rwandan and other asylum seekers, both those currently in the country or those who might still arrive, are able to freely lodge asylum claims.

The Government of Burundi should immediately evaluate the claims of up to 400 Rwandan asylum seekers and stop all efforts to coerce them to leave the country.

Burundi’s government should hold accountable those on all sides responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity during and prior to Burundi’s 16-year armed conflict. The statement marks the fifth anniversary of a massacre at the Gatumba refugee camp.

Recognizing our obligation to help protect human rights and uphold the rule of law, we, the undersigned civil society organizations, appeal to African ICC States Parties to reaffirm their support for the ICC and their commitment to abide by their obligations under the Rome Statute, particularly in relation to the arrest and transfer of the President of Sudan to the ICC.

An April 2009 law that criminalizes homosexual conduct threatens to exacerbate the deplorable treatment of gays and lesbians in Burundi.

The Tanzanian and Ugandan governments should ensure that refugees living in camps due to close on June 30 and July 31, 2009 are not forcibly returned to their home countries and are immediately given full information about their options.