Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

Sources report that Bujumbura International Airport is the only international airport in Bujumbura (Gabon 28 Nov. 2017; Xinhua News Agency 15 Aug. 2017) or in Burundi (Burundi Eco 19 Jan. 2018).

1. Security Screening Procedures

Article 4 of Decree No. 100/117 of 2 May 2013 Concerning the Organization and Operation of the Burundi Civil Aviation Authority (Décret no 100/117 du 02 mai 2013 portant organisation et fonctionnement de l'Autorité de l'aviation civile du Burundi, “AACB”) provides the following:

[translation]

The Authority is Burundi’s competent body in matters of aviation safety, security and economics.

It also manages state-owned airports and air navigation services.

…. (Burundi 2013)

The information in the following paragraphs is taken from an interview between the commander of Bujumbura airport and the communications unit of Burundi’s Ministry of Public Security (ministère de la Sécurité publique - MSP), which was posted on the MSP’s website:

[translation]

According to the commander, Bujumbura’s Airport Police Station (Commissariat aéroportuaire) is responsible for

maintaining and restoring public order, securing civil aviation equipment, screening passengers and vehicles that enter the airport grounds, screening people transiting through the airport, combatting irregular migration, combatting document fraud and prohibited products, human trafficking, enforcing civil aviation regulations, co-operating with other services at the airport and ensuring the security of all people working at the airport.

Those activities are carried out by four services, namely, the security service, the cross-border service, the judicial police and the administration and logistics service. The various services that ensure security are described as follows:

[translation]

1. Security service
   
   This service ensures security within the airport from the primary entrance, security in the parking lots (vehicles), North and South position markers for securing civil aviation equipment, etc. Male and female police officers are posted at the primary entrance to screen persons and vehicles entering the airport. Individuals are searched with metal detectors, vehicles are searched with telescopic mirrors, and luggage is passed through the controlix system to have its contents scanned.
    
2. Cross-border service
   
   This service controls the travel documents of people entering and exiting the country. Burundians or foreigners wishing to travel must have a travel document (passport, pass, ECGLC [travel pass of the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries]), an airplane ticket and, in some cases, a yellow card. We use a “passport-reader” device (their fingerprints) to check whether an individual’s passport is in fact their passport. Furthermore, people who enter our country must have entry visas. Following the screening process, the police station then authorizes the entry or exit of passengers.
    
3. Judicial police service
   
   This service oversees intelligence and the preparation of preliminary case records of alleged perpetrators of offences committed at the airport. The case records are then sent to the headquarters of the judicial police for thorough investigation. Those individuals include deportees, returned persons and voluntary returnees. Officers of the judicial police identify them to find out the circumstances of their deportation or refoulement. Judicial police are also on the lookout for drug traffickers, products smuggled through the airport, and any suspicious product or person (Burundi [2 Sep. 2015]).

According to an article posted on the MSP’s website, the Air, Border and Aliens Police (Police de l'air, des frontières et des étrangers - PAFE) is [translation] “one of the headquarters of Burundi’s National Police (Police nationale du Burundi - PNB) that offers multiple services to Burundian citizens and foreigners living in Burundi or those transiting through Burundi on their way to other countries” (Burundi n.d.a). The same source states that, in an interview with the MSP’s communications unit, the chief of the PAFE indicated that the PAFE was responsible for the following, in addition to issuing travel documents:

[translation]

[The PAFE] controls the movement of foreigners who enter and exit the country, controls travel documents at all borders (Rumonge, Nyanza-lac, Mabanda, Mugina, Gisuru, Mishiha, Gasenyi, Kobero, Giteranyi, Kanyaru [H]aut and [B]as, Kabarore, Ruhwa[,] Mutimbuzi, [V]ugizo, Port of Bujumbura and Bujumbura international airport), combats irregular migration, enforces aviation regulations, combats travel document fraud, combats child trafficking, and any other form of criminality. (Burundi n.d.a)

In a November 2017 article published by Yaga, a Burundian blogger collective that aims to change attitudes (Yaga n.d.) and that is supported [translation] “logistically by Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW)” via its Waza website (Le Monde 14 May 2015), a blogger describes his experience of going through Bujumbura airport:

[translation]

At 4:00 p.m., we were at the airport. There were five police officers at the entrance, where everyone has to get out of their vehicles and have their luggage scanned.

Before entering the airport, a police officer approached …. I quickly stated that we were in a hurry, that our flight was in less than an hour. We were about to leave to be screened when the police officer and his colleague unexpectedly came up to me and whispered: … pay us a bribe and go through. …

I took out two 1000 Burundian franc (Fbu) bills [about C$1]. My trunk was full of luggage, and I went through without any checks. (Yaga 14 Nov. 2017)

In an Agence France-Presse (AFP) article, in which the Director General of the AACB comments on the seizure of ivory found in a backpack at Bujumbura International Airport, he also mentions that “scanners” are used (AFP 28 Oct. 2014).

On the website of the Logistic Capacity Assessment (LCA) [1], the information gathered on Bujumbura International Airport indicates that “police officers are present at the departure and arrival halls: both areas are fitted with scanning devices, in addition to close circuit cameras installed at strategic points. Also, army personnel can be seen around the airport” (LCA 24 Mar. 2016).

An article posted on the AACB’s website reports that the AACB, which manages all of Burundi’s airports, acquired the [translation] “Logyx software, which is an X-ray software” (Burundi n.d.b). Similarly, other sources report that, in July 2013, Bujumbura airport was equipped with the Logyx software, intended [translation] “for training and evaluating security X-ray screeners at the airport” (Iwacu 31 July 2013; Xinhua News Agency 30 July 2013).

2. Arrests of Individuals Sought by the Authorities

Information on reported cases of individuals who were arrested while trying to leave the country was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2.1 In Burundi

Sources report that a woman, Jeanne Ndayishimiye, was arrested at Bujumbura airport in April 2016 for breaching state security (SOS Torture Burundi 16 Apr. 2016; RPA 14 Apr. 2016; Bwiza News 13 Apr. 2016) as she was about to board a flight to Kigali, in Rwanda (RPA 14 Apr. 2016). Sources report that she was arrested by the [translation] “airport commander” (SOS Torture Burundi 16 Apr. 2016; Bwiza News 13 Apr. 2016) or by the “head of airport security” (RPA 14 Apr. 2016). She was then transferred into the custody of the National Intelligence Service (Service national des renseignements - SNR), which detained her (SOS Torture Burundi 16 Apr. 2016; RPA 14 Apr. 2016; Bwiza News 13 Apr. 2016), then released her on 14 April 2016 (SOS Torture Burundi 16 Apr. 2016). Sources report that Jeanne Ndayishimiye is a victim of being related to the exiled Burundian radio director, Isanganiro (SOS Torture Burundi 16 Apr. 2016; RPA 14 Apr. 2016; Bwiza News 13 Apr. 2016). Radio publique africaine (RPA), located in Bujumbura, reported that a lawyer at the Bujumbura bar noted that the arrest and detention of Jeanne Ndayishimiye were illegal, because the young woman had not been summoned (RPA 14 Apr. 2016). However, Bwiza News reports that [translation] “[the] office[,] which did not want to comment for the time being, noted that due process was applied with respect to the arrest. According to a police source, an arrest warrant had been issued for ‘breach of internal state security’” (Bwiza News 13 Apr. 2016). According to the RPA, [translation] “messages to young ‘Imbonerakure’ were posted on the Whatsap[p] network the day before her arrest … asking them to intercept the vehicle identified as the one transporting the young woman” (RPA 14 Apr. 2016). Similarly, according to an article published by Bwiza News, a Rwandan news website, [translation] “[t]he case of Jeanne Ndayishimiye was reported [on April 11, 2016] on social networks, along with a description of her and her vehicle, while people yet to be identified called for her arrest” (Bwiza News 13 Apr. 2016).

A joint report on Burundi by the International Federation for Human Rights (Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme - FIDH) and the Iteka Burundi Human Rights League (Ligue burundaise des droits de l'homme Iteka - Ligue Iteka), published in November 2016, gives an account of the case of a Ligue Iteka observer in Burundi who was bullied by the Burundian authorities:

[translation]

In May 2016, men in police uniforms went to his home, although [he] had left his home for safety reasons and a warrant had been issued for his arrest. [He] indicated that he was followed into Bujumbura airport by Désiré Uwamahoro, chief of the police riot squad, as he sought to leave the territory to evade the SNR. He finally managed to board his flight before the border police found out (FIDH and Ligue Iteka Nov. 2016, 120).

Sources report that Burundi riot squad chief, Désiré Uwamahoro, was arrested on 29 October 2016 at Bujumbura airport by the SNR and charged with swindling in relation to gold trafficking (RFI 5 Nov. 2016; RPA 31 Oct. 2016).

2.2 Arrests of Individuals Returning from Abroad

In an article on 18 August 2016, Radio France internationale (RFI) reports that, following an investigation, at least 14 Burundian soldiers deployed abroad decided to desert the military and not return to the country out of fear of being arrested upon their return by the authorities, who target soldiers suspected of being close to the opposition (RFI 18 Aug. 2016). The article states the following:

[translation]

Thomas and three of his comrades claim that they found their names on a list of soldiers to be watched posted on social networks and that they had received death threats from their colleagues. They then decided to disobey: “We were afraid of being arrested, as was the case of a soldier a few days ago at Bujumbura airport, upon his return from a deployment to the Central African Republic,” he explained (RFI 18 Aug. 2016, italics in original).

An article published by RFI on 21 August 2016 reports that, at a press briefing held on 19 August 2016 by the Burundian army, the spokesperson [translation] “spoke of ‘political conspiracy’” to explain the desertions of military personnel and he “also recognized that two second lieutenants at the Higher Institute of Senior Military Officers (Institut supérieur des cadres militaires) were arrested by the SNR … upon their return to the country. Colonel Baratuza remains vague about the motive for the arrests” (RFI 21 Aug. 2016). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Sources report that a non-commissioned officer in the Burundian army, Adjutant Major Élysée Nduwumukama, was arrested at Bujumbura airport by the SNR upon his return from a deployment to the Central African Republic (SOS-Torture Burundi 28 Jan. 2017; RPA 24 Jan. 2017).

In March 2017, the Burundian media group Iwacu reports that Master Corporal Léon Niyonkuru was repatriated from Somalia, where he had been on deployment; he was charged with driving alone in Mogadishu and was arrested by the military police upon his arrival at Bujumbura International Airport (Iwacu 14 Mar. 2017). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

In April 2017, an article in Le Monde on a [translation] “purge” of the Burundian army following the attempted coup in 2015, reports that “there are troubling rumours in the country: Tutsi military officers, back from deployment, were arrested upon their arrival at Bujumbura airport and disappeared without a trace” (Le Monde 12 Apr. 2017). A joint report by the FIDH and the Ligue Iteka published in June 2017 also reports, in a section devoted to desertions in the Burundian army, that since January 2017, two former members of the Burundian Armed Forced (Forces armées burundaises - FAB) were arrested at Bujumbura airport upon their return from deployment (FIDH and Ligue Iteka Jun. 2017, 14).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Note

[1] The LCA is a tool of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) (LCA n.d.a). It provides a source of information related to the logistics infrastructure and services in a given country; it is made available to the WFP and the humanitarian community (LCA n.d.b). Members of the LCA team collect data from their sources in the field, then verify, compile and publish the data (Global Logistics Cluster 2017, 16-17). According to the LCA, the assessor for Burundi is Mohamed Musa, Head of Logistics at PAM (LCA 6 June 2016).

References

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 28 October 2014. “Burundi : un Malien arrêté avec neuf kilos d'ivoire.” (Factiva) [Accessed 26 Feb. 2018]

Burundi. [2 September 2015]. Ministry of Public Security (MSP). “Les activités du commissariat aéroportuaire de Bujumbura.” [Accessed 22 Feb. 2018]

Burundi. 2013. Décret no 100/117 du 02 mai 2013 portant organisation et fonctionnement de l'Autorité de l'aviation civile du Burundi, “AACB.” [Accessed 28 Feb. 2018]

Burundi. N.d.a. Ministry of Public Security (MSP). “Les services offerts par le Commissariat général de la Police de l'air, des frontières et des étrangers (PAFE).” [Accessed 28 Feb. 2018]

Burundi. N.d.b. Autorité de l'aviation civile du Burundi (AACB). “AACB acquiert le LOGYx : logiciel d'imagerie radioscopique pour la sûreté aéroportuaire.” [Accessed 26 Feb. 2018]

Burundi Eco. 19 January 2018. Mélance Maniragaba. “L'aéroport international de Bujumbura pourrait changer de visage.” [Accessed 19 Feb. 2018]

Bwiza News. 13 April 2016. Mecky Kayi. “Burundi : arrestation de Jeanne Ndayishimiye à l'aéroport international.” [Accessed 27 Feb. 2018]

Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH) and Ligue burundaise des droits de l'homme Iteka (Ligue Iteka). June 2017. Le Burundi au bord du gouffre : retour sur deux années de terreur. [Accessed 26 Feb. 2018]

Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH) and Ligue burundaise des droits de l'homme Iteka (Ligue Iteka). November 2016. Burundi : une répression aux dynamiques génocidaires. [Accessed 22 Feb. 2018]

Gabon. 28 November 2017. Agence nationale de l'aviation civile. “Burundi : approbation d'un projet de modernisation et d'extension de l'aéroport international de Bujumbura.” [Accessed 22 Feb. 2018]

Iwacu. 14 March 2017. “Burundi Soldier Repatriated From Somalia for Driving Alone in Mogadishu.” (Factiva) [Accessed 26 Feb. 2018]

Iwacu. 31 July 2013. Diane Uwimana. “L'aéroport de Bujumbura se dote d'un nouveau logiciel pour plus de sécurité.” [Accessed 19 Feb. 2018]

Logistics Capacity Assessment (LCA). 6 June 2016. Jessica Cochran. “Burundi.” [Accessed 7 Mar. 2018]

Logistics Capacity Assessment (LCA). 24 March 2016. Lucy Styles and Jessica Cochran. “Burundi Bujumbura International Airport.” [Accessed 28 Feb. 2018]

Logistics Capacity Assessment (LCA). N.d.a. “LCA Homepage.” [Accessed 13 Mar. 2018]

Logistics Capacity Assessment (LCA). N.d.b. “FAQ for LCAs and Rapid LCAs.” [Accessed 6 Mar. 2018]

Logistics Cluster. 2017. Information Management Unit. IM Guide 2017. [Accessed 14 Mar. 2018]

Le Monde. 12 April 2017. Camille Lafont. “Burundi : la "purge" de l'armée racontée par des officiers en exil.” [Accessed 26 Feb. 2018]

Le Monde. 14 May 2015. Émile Costard. “Au Burundi, la tentative de coup d'État en direct avec les blogueurs de Yaga Burundi.” [Accessed 6 Mar. 2018]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 5 November 2016. “Pourquoi le chef de la brigade anti-émeutes a-t-il été arrêté?” [Accessed 26 Feb. 2018]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 21 August 2016. “Burundi : L'armée fait le point sur les désertions de militaires.” [Accessed 28 Feb. 2018]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 18 August 2016. “[Enquête] Ces militaires burundais qui désertent en mission à l'étranger.” [Accessed 28 Feb. 2018]

Radio publique africaine (RPA). 24 January 2017. “Deux membres des services de sécurité interpellés le weekend dernier.” [Accessed 28 Feb. 2018]

Radio publique africaine (RPA). 31 October 2016. “Le Commissaire Désiré Uwamahoro en détention suite à une affaire d'escroquerie.” [Accessed 28 Feb. 2018]

Radio publique africaine (RPA). 14 April 2016. “Jeanne Ndayishimiye, victime de ses liens de parenté avec la directrice de la radio Isanganiro.” [Accessed 28 févr. 2018]

SOS-Torture Burundi. 28 January 2017. Rapport n°59 de SOS-Torture/Burundi publié le 28 janvier 2017. [Accessed 23 Feb. 2018]

SOS-Torture Burundi. 16 April 2016. “SOS-Torture / N° 18.” [Accessed 28 Feb. 2018]

Xinhua News Agency. 15 August 2017. “Le Burundi se dotera d'aéroports secondaires pour désengorger l'unique aéroport international de Bujumbura.” [Accessed 6 Mar. 2018]

Xinhua News Agency. 30 July 2013. “28 kg d'ivoire saisis à l'aéroport de Bujumbura sur un Guinéen.” [Accessed: 27 Feb. 2018]

Yaga. 14 November 2017. Jean Ndikumana. “Aéroport de Bujumbura, domaine sécurisé vous dites?” [Accessed 22 Feb. 2018]

Yaga. N.d. “Qui sommes-nous?” [Accessed 28 Feb. 2018]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project; Belgium – Service public fédéral; ecoi.net; France – France diplomatie; Freedom House; Human Rights Watch; Ikiriho; International Civil Aviation Organization; International Crisis Group; Jeune Afrique; Médiapart; People's Daily Online; La Tribune; UK – Foreign Travel Advice; UN – Refworld; US – Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Department of State, Embassy in Burundi.