Burundi: Jailed Doctor Needs Urgent Medical Care

Dr Christophe Sahabo, managing director of Kira Hospital in Bujumbura, 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 Christophe Sahabo remained in detention 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 transferred to Ruyigi prison, approximately 160km from Bujumbura where his case is being heard. His family and lawyers alleged that he was put under pressure and forced to resign from his role at Kira Hospital over unsubstantiated claims of fraud, money laundering and forging documents. One of his lawyers said that a recent financial audit, commissioned by Kira Hospital interim officials, found no wrongdoing on Christophe Sahabo’s account. On 27 September 2022, his brother and lawyer were arrested and accused by the prosecutor general of forging the minutes of the Kira Hospital’s general assembly meeting that reinstated Christophe Sahabo as director. His lawyer was released on 7 October 2022 after recusing herself from the case. His brother was also released the same day.