Global Integrity Report

Burundi Home

Facts

Timeline

Notebook

Integrity Scorecard

2007 Assessment

Burundi: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Burundi: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: National Ombudsman
Indicators		Score
52	In law, is there a national ombudsman, public protector or equivalent agency (or collection of agencies) covering the entire public sector?	100
53	Is the national ombudsman effective?	9
54	Can citizens access the reports of the ombudsman?	33

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

In law, is there a national ombudsman, public protector or equivalent agency (or collection of agencies) covering the entire public sector?

52: In law, is there a national ombudsman, public protector or equivalent agency (or collection of agencies) covering the entire public sector?

Score:

YES

Comments: In practice the omdusman has not yet been appointed and this institution doesn't exist until now.

References: A rticle 237 de la constitution LOmbudsman reçoit les plaintes et mène des enquêtes concernant des fautes de gestion et des violations des droits des citoyens commises par des agents de la fonction publique et du judiciaire et fait des recommandations à ce sujet aux autorités compétentes. Il assure également une médiation entre lAdministration et les citoyens et entre les ministères et lAdministration et joue le rôle dobservateur en ce qui concerne le fonctionnement de ladministration publique. Lorganisation et le fonctionnement de son service sont fixés par la loi.

Is the national ombudsman effective?

53a: In law, the ombudsman is protected from political interference.

Score:

YES

Comments: There is no specific law on the missions and the working of this institution, but the arrangements of the constitution on the ombudsman seem to give some formal independence from the government.

References: A rticle 238 de la constitution LOmbudsman dispose des pouvoirs et des ressources nécessaires pour sacquitter de ses fonctions. Il présente chaque année un rapport à lAssemblée nationale et au Sénat. Son rapport est publié dans le Bulletin officiel du Burundi.

A rticle 239 de la constitution LOmbudsman est nommé par lAssemblée Nationale à la majorité des trois quarts de ses membres. Sa nomination est sujette à approbation par le Sénat à la majorité de deux-tiers de ses membres. Son mandat est de six ans non renouvelable.

53b: In practice, the ombudsman is protected from political interference.

Score:

100

Comments: Even though this institution is prescribed by the constitution, it doesn't exist yet.

References: The different media reports (Radio Isanganro, Radio Publique Africaine and the national radio) attest the nonexistence of the institution of ombudsman.

Interview with Eugene Nindorera, former minister of human rights and institutional reforms, Aug. 25, 2007, in Bujumbura.

53c: In practice, the head of the ombudsman agency/entity is protected from removal without relevant justification.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: The different media reports (Radio Isanganro, Radio Publique Africaine and the national radio) attest the nonexistence of the institution of ombudsman.

Interview with Eugene Nindorera, former minister of human rights and institutional reforms, Aug. 25, 2007, in Bujumbura.

53d: In practice, the ombudsman agency (or agencies) has a professional, full-time staff.

Score:

100

Comments: The institution of the ombudsman does not exist yet

References: The different media reports (Radio Isanganro, Radio Publique Africaine and the national radio) attest the nonexistence of the institution of ombudsman.

Interview with Eugene Nindorera, former minister of human rights and institutional reforms, Aug. 25, 2007, in Bujumbura.

53e: In practice, agency appointments support the independence of the ombudsman agency (or agencies).

Score:

100

Comments: The institution of ombudsman does not exist yet

References: The different media reports (Radio Isanganro, Radio Publique Africaine and the national radio) attest the nonexistence of the institution of ombudsman.

Interview with Eugene Nindorera, former minister of human rights and institutional reforms, Aug. 25, 2007, in Bujumbura.

53f: In practice, the ombudsman agency (or agencies) receives regular funding.

Score:

100

Comments: The institution of the ombudsman does not exist yet

References: The different media reports (Radio Isanganro, Radio Publique Africaine and the national radio) attest the nonexistence of the institution of ombudsman.

Interview with Eugene Nindorera, former minister of human rights and institutional reforms, Aug. 25, 2007, in Bujumbura.

53g: In practice, the ombudsman agency (or agencies) makes publicly available reports.

Score:

100

Comments: the institution of the ombudsman does not exist yet

References: The different media reports (Radio Isanganro, Radio Publique Africaine and the national radio) attest the nonexistence of the institution of ombudsman.

Interview with Eugene Nindorera, former minister of human rights and institutional reforms, Aug. 25, 2007, in Bujumbura.

53h: In practice, when necessary, the national ombudsman (or equivalent agency or agencies) initiates investigations.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: The agency aggressively starts investigations -- or participates fully with cooperating agencies\' investigations -- into judicial misconduct. The agency is fair in its application of this power. <p>50 Score Criteria: The agency will start or cooperate in investigations, but often relies on external pressure to set priorities, or has limited effectiveness when investigating. The agency, though limited in effectiveness, is still fair in its application of power. <p>0 Score Criteria: The agency rarely investigates on its own or cooperates in other agencies\' investigations, or the agency is partisan in its application of this power.$

Comments: The institution of the ombudsman does not exist yet.

References: The different media reports (Radio Isanganro, Radio Publique Africaine and the national radio) attest the nonexistence of the institution of ombudsman.

Interview with Eugene Nindorera, former minister of human rights and institutional reforms, Aug. 25, 2007, in Bujumbura.

53i: In practice, when necessary, the national ombudsman (or equivalent agency or agencies) imposes penalties on offenders.

Score:

100

Comments: The institution of the ombudsman does not exist yet.

References: The different media reports (Radio Isanganro, Radio Publique Africaine and the national radio) attest the nonexistence of the institution of ombudsman.

Interview with Eugene Nindorera, former minister of human rights and institutional reforms, Aug. 25, 2007, in Bujumbura.

53j: In practice, the government acts on the findings of the ombudsman agency (or agencies).

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: Ombudsman\'s reports are taken seriously, with negative findings drawing prompt corrective action. <p>50 Score Criteria: In most cases, ombudsman\'s reports are acted on, though some exceptions may occur for politicalally sensitive issues, or particularly resistant agencies. <p>0 Score Criteria: Ombudsman reports are often ignored, or given superficial attention. Ombudsman reports do not lead to policy changes.$

Comments: The institution of the ombudsman does not exist yet.

References: The different media reports (Radio Isanganro, Radio Publique Africaine and the national radio) attest the nonexistence of the institution of ombudsman.

Interview with Eugene Nindorera, former minister of human rights and institutional reforms, Aug. 25, 2007, in Bujumbura.

53k: In practice, the ombudsman agency (or agencies) acts on citizen complaints within a reasonable time period.

Score:

100

Comments: The institution of the ombudsman does not exist yet.

References: The different media reports (Radio Isanganro, Radio Publique Africaine and the national radio) attest the nonexistence of the institution of ombudsman.

Interview with Eugene Nindorera, former minister of human rights and institutional reforms, Aug. 25, 2007, in Bujumbura.

Can citizens access the reports of the ombudsman?

54a: In law, citizens can access reports of the ombudsman(s).

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: A rticle 2 38 LOmbudsman dispose des pouvoirs et des ressources nécessaires pour sacquitter de ses fonctions. Il présente chaque année un rapport à lAssemblée nationale et au Sénat. Son rapport est publié dans le Bulletin officiel du Burundi.

54b: In practice, citizens can access the reports of the ombudsman(s) within a reasonable time period.

Score:

100

Comments: The institution of the ombudsman does not exist yet.

References: The different media reports (Radio Isanganro, Radio Publique Africaine and the national radio) attest the nonexistence of the institution of ombudsman.

Interview with Eugene Nindorera, former minister of human rights and institutional reforms, Aug. 25, 2007, in Bujumbura.

54c: In practice, citizens can access the reports of the ombudsman(s) at a reasonable cost.

Score:

100

Comments: The institution of the ombudsman does not exist yet.

References: The different media reports (Radio Isanganro, Radio Publique Africaine and the national radio) attest the nonexistence of the institution of ombudsman.

Interview with Eugene Nindorera, former minister of human rights and institutional reforms, Aug. 25, 2007, in Bujumbura.