Prisoners from Mpimba Prison, Bujumbura, plant trees. Burundi, 2012. Photo by Flickr user Trees ForTheFuture, CC BY 2.0 On April 26, Burundi authorities released 3,000 prisoners following a presidential pardon that aims to free a total of 5,225 people — or 40 percent of the country's prison population. The authorities seek to relieve pressure on the country's overcrowded jails as well as improve diplomatic relations. Following the violent political crisis surrounding ex-President Pierre Nkurunziza’s controversial third election in 2015, some international governments and donors, notably in Europe, imposed sanctions and suspended direct aid to the government. Current president Évariste Ndayishimiye first announced a mass release of prisoners on December 31, and a decree came on March 5. The pardon focused on prisoners with shorter sentences, or only part remaining, and the vulnerable such as the elderly. It did not cover security charges, such as working with armed groups — an accusation often levelled against political opponents or activists. In early April, Justice Ministry Jeanine Nibizi said all prisoners would attend “patriotic training” before release. The president gave a speech to mark the occasion at Bujumbura’s Mpimba prison, where 1,400 prisoners received a pardon. #Burundi En présence des Hauts Cadres de l'État, le Président de la République S.E Evariste #Ndayishimiye rehausse de sa présence les cérémonies marquant le début de la libération des détenus concernés par les mesures de Grâce présidentielle accordée le 31 décembre 2020. pic.twitter.com/3cx1nDlBQ5 — Ntare Rushatsi House (@NtareHouse) April 26, 2021 With senior state officials, the Republic’s President H.E. Evariste #Ndayishimiye graces with his presence the ceremonies marking the beginning of the release of prisoners benefitting from the Presidential Pardon granted on 31 December 2020. In his speech, the president said that “no prisoners were held for political motives,” in reference to critics who point to exaggerated charges against various opponents and activists. Ndayishimiye also said and that authorities were ready to recognize good behaviour, “like a father”. While Ndayishimiye said the pardons were not done to please other governments, Foreign Affairs Minister Albert Shingiro was touring several European countries just as the president was giving his speech, as part of ongoing talks to improve Burundi's image internationally. Human rights monitors welcomed the pardons. Prisoners’ rights activist, Pierre-Claver Mbonimpa — himself in exile after an assassination attempt — told Radio France Internationale that it was “better than nothing”, but highlighted that prisons were still overcrowded and political prisoners remained in jail. The National Independent Human Rights Commission also praised the pardon, calling for more alternative sentences, such as community work, and to avoid excessive pretrial detention. The commission also reports that some prisoners have remained in jail after their sentence ended. The Burundian Association for Protecting Human Rights and Detained Persons (APRODH)’s March report recorded 13,532 inmates across Burundi’s prisons, over three times the capacity of 4,194; Over 5,000 were yet to be tried. It also described at least 70 cases of “arbitrary detention,” and prisoners held at irregular secret sites by intelligence services. Data gathered by Iwacu newspaper showed a steady increase in the country's already overcrowded prison population from 2014 to 2018, while capacity stayed the same. Prisoners are also held in police station cells. Officials also noted that a large prison population is costly. Reducing these costs would certainly be useful for authorities, given the economic difficulties resulting from the 2015 political crisis and sanctions. Iwacu reported released prisoners’ relief, excited to see family. The pardon of prisoners was widely welcomed as it relieved pressure on overcrowded prisons, especially during the pandemic as recently Burundi has seen more COVID-19 cases, but a number of political prisoners remain behind bars. For example, Germain Rukiki, of Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture — Burundi, was sentenced in 2018 to 32 years in jail, although that penalty is being slowly reviewed. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have called for his release. Germain Rukuki was arrested in Bujumbura on 13 July 2017 and sentenced to 32 years in prison on trumped up charges of “rebellion” and “threatening State security” on 26 April 2018.