Burundi: Convicted Doctor’s Life In Danger In Detention

Dr. Christophe Sahabo, Managing Director of Kira Hospital in Bujumbura, Burundi, was arrested in April 2022 alongside Jean-David Pillot, Chair of the hospital’s Board of Directors. The latter was released after one night in detention, but Dr. Sahabo remained in custody for several days without access to his family or lawyers of his choosing. He was detained in a National Intelligence Service (SNR) cell, where he spent more than 30 days before being presented to a magistrate and transferred to Mpimba prison. On 29 September 2022, he was moved to Ruyigi prison, approximately 160 km from Bujumbura, where his case is being heard. His family and lawyers alleged that he was pressured and forced to resign from his role at Kira Hospital over unsubstantiated allegations of fraud, money laundering, and document forgery. A financial audit commissioned by Kira Hospital’s interim officials reportedly found no evidence of wrongdoing on Dr. Sahabo’s part. On 27 September 2022, his brother and his lawyer were arrested and accused by the Prosecutor General of forging the minutes of Kira Hospital’s General Assembly meeting that reinstated him as director; both were released on 7 October 2022 after the lawyer recused herself from the case.