Former Burundi Prime Minister Alain Guillaume Bunyoni is facing the possibility of a life sentence following a request made by the Public Prosecutor in court in the country’s political capital, Gitega.
The once highly regarded politician, who held the position from 2020 to 2022, now finds himself at the centre of a gripping legal battle that has captivated the nation.
Bunyoni, an army general, faces nine charges, including an alleged attempt to kill President Evariste Ndayishimiye, toppling government and illegal possession of weapons.’
He is also accused of insulting the president and Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca as well as abusing public office and destabilising the country’s economy.
The prosecutor also seeks 30 years in prison for Bunyoni’s six co-accused, who include an intelligence official and a police commander. They are accused of being part of the conspiracy to kill the president.
The prosecutor’s request for a life sentence highlights the gravity of these accusations and the determination to seek justice.
However, Bunyoni denies all the charges.
The substantial trial of Bunyoni who was arrested in April, began on Monday, November 6.
As news of the potential life sentence spreads, public opinion has become deeply divided. Supporters of Bunyoni argue that he was a dedicated statesman who made significant contributions to the country during his tenure. They believe that the charges against him are politically motivated and an attempt to discredit his legacy.
Bunyoni was Burundi’s prime minister from mid-2020 to September 2022, when he was sacked by President Ndayishimiye.
The former police chief and minister of internal security was reported missing days before his arrest in April on charges of undermining the internal security of the state, undermining the proper functioning of the national economy, and illegal enrichment.
A close ally of former president Pierre Nkurunziza, who died in 2020, was an influential senior figure in the ruling CNDD-FDD party.
Bunyoni’s legal team is anticipated to mount a robust defence in order to challenge the validity of the charges brought against their client.
