Faustin Ndikumana

Who is Faustin Ndikumana?

Faustin Ndikumana is a Burundian anti-corruption activist and founder of the group Parole et Action pour le Réveil des Consciences et l'Evolution des Mentalités. In February 2012, he was detained for two weeks on charges of making "false declarations", leading Amnesty International to designate him a prisoner of conscience.

In early 2012, Ndikumana wrote to the Burundian Justice Minister, Pascal Barandagiye, stating that PARCEM had been told by new judges that they had been asked to pay US$1,000 to $1,500 in exchange for their appointments. On 3 February, Ndikumana held a press conference to make the allegations public.

Ndikumana was arrested by agents of the Anti-Corruption Brigade on 7 February while giving an interview to Radio Publique Africaine. He was then taken before a magistrate of the Anti-Corruption Court, apparently on the basis of a complaint by the Justice Minister. The court charged him under Article 14 of the Anti-Corruption Law with making "false declarations", which carries a maximum sentence of ten years' imprisonment and a fine of 1 million Burundian francs. Ndikumana was then transferred to Mpimba Central Prison in Bujumbura.