Categorization: There are continued ethnic divisions between the Tutsi and Hutu peoples despite efforts to eliminate such designations from official documents in Burundi.

Video: Amilcar Ryumenko, Member of Association des Burundais du Canada à Montreal.

Dehumanization: In October 2015, Senator Révérien Ndikuriyo publicly declared “These people (Tutsis) are only good for dying”, and directed citizens to “spray cockroaches with bullets”. Révérien Ndikuriyo, Président du Sénat burundais ©Burundian Senate

Organization: The Imbonerakure are government-associated youth militias that have been directed by the government to kill the opposition. Reports have shown that they have carried out large scale arbitrary arrests and participated in extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. ©Desire Nimubona/IRIN.

Polarization: In May 2015, all independent radio stations were shut down by the government to control discourse around the opposition. Pierre-Claver Mbonimpa, President of the Burundian Association for the Protection of Human Rights and Incarcerated People (APRODH) was evacuated for medical treatment after surviving an assassination attempt in August 2015.

Preparation: In April 2017, the Imbonerakure militia was filmed chanting songs inciting rape toward females from the opposition during a rally. The men in purple belonging to the Imbonerakure, a government-associated youth militia, repeatedly chant: “Impregnate the opposition so they give birth to Imbonerakure. There are lots of girls. Impregnate them, Imbonerakure!”

Persecution: Government soldiers have arrested and tortured hundreds of civilians that they identify with the opposition. Amendments have also been made to the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal procedure to enable security forces to carry out searches without a warrant, and to strengthen controls over e-mails and facilitate the seizure of electronic information. ©Human Rights Watch

Prevention: Claudia Hakizimana explains measures and demands made by the Alliance des Burundais du Canada à Montréal to appease the crisis in Burundi.