Burundi makes history: Batwa leader appointed Minister

as President Évariste Ndayishimiye issues landmark apology

Bujumbura, 14 August 2025 - The Government of Burundi has taken an unprecedented step toward reconciliation and inclusion by appointing Katihabwa Artemon, an Indigenous leader from the Batwa community, as Minister of Justice, Human Rights, and Gender. This milestone, announced just ahead of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (9 August 2025), was accompanied by an official apology from the President to the Batwa people for historical injustices, pledging that such violations must never happen again.

The announcement is being hailed as a historic breakthrough in Africa, where recognition of Indigenous rights remains rare. For the Batwa community, who have long been marginalised and excluded, this marks a turning point in their struggle for justice, dignity, and full citizenship.

NLC Burundi’s role in building momentum

This recognition did not happen in isolation. The National Land Coalition (NLC) in Burundi, led by Unissons-nous pour la Promotion des Batwa (UNIPROBA), has been at the forefront of raising awareness and advocating for Batwa rights.

• In 2024, following COP28 in Dubai, NLC Burundi organised a regional youth awareness workshop on land rights and the Rio Conventions (UNFCCC, UNCCD, CBD), bringing together young people from Burundi, DRC, Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, and the Republic of Congo.
• The workshop, attended by senior Burundian officials, including the climate focal point, the Director of Environment, and the Assistant Minister of Environment, received widespread media coverage. National debates focused on land rights, climate change, desertification, and the vital role of Indigenous knowledge.
• By framing Batwa demands not as “special rights” but as basic rights of citizenship, NLC Burundi and UNIPROBA helped shift public and political understanding, laying the groundwork for this national-level recognition.
• This builds on more than 20 years of UNIPROBA advocacy, consistently pushing leaders to acknowledge and address the systemic exclusion of the Batwa.

The road ahead: Turning recognition into action

Whie the appointment and apology mark historic progress, NLC Burundi emphasises that follow-up actions are critical to ensure meaningful change for the Batwa. To translate commitments into reality, NLC Burundi proposes:

• Convening Indigenous leaders to coordinate follow-up on Presidential promises.
• Capacity building for Batwa leaders to strengthen representation and advocacy.
• Broad awareness raising among government, civil society, and the public.
• Developing a roadmap for implementation and monitoring progress.
• Conducting field visits to grassroots Batwa communities to assess needs.
• Producing evidence-based reports from the field to inform policy and advocacy.

The International Land Coalition and its members reaffirm their commitment to stand with NLC Burundi and Indigenous communities across Africa in ensuring that this historic moment translates into long-term justice, dignity, and equity.