Bujumbura, Burundi: Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye’s recent call for citizens to stone gay people has ignited international condemnation, raising concerns about escalating discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals in the East African nation.
Ndayishimiye’s remarks, made last week, represent a stark escalation in Burundi’s already hostile climate towards sexual minorities. LGBT people in the country face not only social ostracization but also potential jail sentences of up to two years for same-sex acts.
The United States, a key international partner of Burundi, expressed deep concern over the President’s statement. “We are deeply troubled by President Ndayishimiye’s remarks targeting certain vulnerable and marginalized Burundians,” declared State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller. “We call on all of Burundi’s leaders to respect the inherent dignity and inalienable rights, including equal access to justice, of every member of Burundian society.”
While the U.S. statement condemned the targeting of marginalized groups, it did not explicitly mention the President’s call for stoning. This has left observers wondering if the U.S. will take more concrete action, such as imposing sanctions similar to those levied against Uganda in May 2023. Uganda’s anti-LGBT law, which included the death penalty for certain offenses, prompted the U.S. to impose travel restrictions and remove the country from a free-trade agreement.
The President’s statement has also sparked outrage within Burundi’s own LGBTQ+ community. “These words are not just hurtful, they are a death sentence for many of us,” said a Burundian LGBT activist who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. “We live in constant fear, and now the highest authority in the land is calling for our violent elimination.”