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Campaign groups have urged Burundi to release five human rights activists who were detained a month ago on charges including, rebellion and undermining state security.
Those being held include two leading members of Burundi’s Association of Women Lawyers, Sonia Ndikumasabo and Marie Emerusabe.
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and a local organization described the charges as baseless.
They said the case signaled a worsening climate for civil society in Burundi.
The government in Bujumbura accuses the activists of benefiting from undeclared foreign funds.
The interior minister, Martin Niteretse, has linked the case to possible financing of terrorism. END.