Bunyoni, who served as Prime Minister of Burundi from June 2020 to September 2022, was freed alongside ten other detainees on health grounds. The release was confirmed by security officials in Burundi as well as his lawyer Placide Gatoto.
One of the most influential figures in Burundi’s political and security establishment, Bunyoni held several senior positions during his career, particularly within the security sector. He was also the first person to receive the rank of General in the country’s national police.
He was arrested in April 2023 and accused of crimes linked to an alleged plot to harm President Évariste Ndayishimiye as well as charges related to undermining the country’s economy.
Following his trial, Bunyoni was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was subsequently transferred to Gitega Central Prison, where he had been serving his sentence.
At the time of his conviction, the court also ordered the seizure and sale of his assets, which reportedly included numerous buildings and vehicles. The proceeds were intended to compensate the Burundian state for funds he was accused of embezzling.
Bunyoni’s health had deteriorated significantly during his detention. On October 9, 2025, he was admitted to a hospital in Gitega after human rights activists who visited him in the special cell where he was being held warned that his condition could be life-threatening.
According to Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, chairperson of the human rights organization APRODH, Bunyoni was suffering from severe diabetes and serious mental health issues. Mbonimpa said the former prime minister sometimes became extremely frightened, even hiding under his bed when people visited him.
Medical treatment at the Gitega hospital reportedly failed to improve his condition. He was later transferred to the private Kira Hospital in Bujumbura, but he was discharged shortly afterward when no significant improvement was observed.
The Burundian government’s decision to release Bunyoni has fueled speculation that he may be allowed to seek specialized medical treatment abroad, where doctors may be better equipped to handle his condition than facilities in Bujumbura or Gitega.
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