Constitution of the Republic of Burundi 2005, as amended to 2018
Obligations of the State
  • English
    …
    Proclaiming again that all human beings, without distinction of race, of religion or of belief, possess inalienable and sacred rights;
    Solemnly reaffirm our attachment to the respect for the fundamental rights of the human person as they result from the international texts relative to the rights of man ratified by Burundi as well as the fundamental principles recognized by the laws of the Republic;
    …
    Reaffirming our engagement to construct a political order and a system of Government inspired by the realities of our country and founded on the values of justice, of democracy, of good governance, of pluralism, of respect for the fundamental freedoms and rights of the individual, of unity, of solidarity, of mutual understanding, of tolerance and of cooperation between the different ethnic groups of our society;
    … (Preamble)
  • Kirundi
    …
    Dusubiriye gutangaza ko zina kiremwa muntu, atagusobanura ubwoko, idini canke ukwemera kwiwe, afise uburenganzira ntakomakomwa;
    Dusubiriye kwemeza icese ishaka dufise ry’ukwubahiriza uburenganzira shingiro bwa kiremwa muntu nk’uko bitegekanijwe n’amasezerano mpuzamakungu yerekeye agateka ka zina muntu yemejwe n’Uburundi hamwe n’ingingo ngenderwako zemewe n’amategeko y’Igihugu;
    …
    Dusubiriye kwiyemeza gushiraho ingendo ya poritike n’intwaro bifatiye ku mico n’akaranga k’igihugu cacu kandi bifatiye ku butungane, ku ntwaro rusangi, ku ntwaro ibereye, ku migambwe myinshi, ku kwishira n’ukwizana kw’umuntu wese, ugushigikirana n’umwumvikano wa bose, ukwihanganirana n’ugufashanya hagati y’ubwoko butandukanye bugize igihugu cacu;
    … (Intangamara)
  • French
    …
    Proclamant à nouveau que tout être humain, sans distinction de race, de religion ni de croyance, possède des droits inaliénables et sacrés ;
    Réaffirmant solennellement notre attachement au respect des droits fondamentaux de la personne humaine tels qu’ils résultent des textes internationaux relatifs aux droits de l’homme ratifiés par le Burundi ainsi que les principes fondamentaux reconnus par les lois de la République.
    …
    Réaffirmant notre engagement à construire un ordre politique et un système de gouvernement inspirés des réalités de notre pays et fondés sur les valeurs de justice, de démocratie, de bonne gouvernance, de pluralisme, de respect des libertés et des droits fondamentaux de l’individu, de l’unité, de solidarité, de compréhension mutuelle, de tolérance et de coopération entre les différents groupes ethniques de notre société ;
    … (Préambule)
Obligations of the State
  • English
    The Government is constructed on the will of the Burundian People. It is responsible before them and respects [their] fundamental freedoms and rights. (Art. 15)
  • Kirundi
    Leta ishimikira ku gushaka kw’abarundi, nibo bayigenzura kandi ikubahiriza ukwishira n’ukwizana hamwe n’amateka ngenderwako yabo. (Ingingo ya 15)
  • French
    Le Gouvernement est construit sur la volonté du peuple burundais. Il est responsable devant lui et en respecte les libertés et droits fondamentaux. (Art. 15)
Obligations of the State
  • English
    The rights and the duties proclaimed and guaranteed by the international texts relative to the rights of man regularly ratified are [an] integral part of the Constitution. (Art. 19)
  • Kirundi
    Amateka n’ibitegerejwe vyatangajwe bigakingirwa n’amasezerano y’isi yose yerekeye agateka ka zina muntu Uburundi bwemeje biri mu bigize iri Bwirizwa shingiro. (Art. 19)
  • French
    Les droits et devoirs proclamés et garantis par les textes internationaux relatifs aux droits de l’homme régulièrement ratifiés font partie intégrante de la Constitution. (Art. 19)
Obligations of the State
  • English
    The fundamental rights must be respected within the whole [ensemble] of the juridical, administrative and institutional order. … (Art. 48)
  • Kirundi
    Amateka ngenderwako ategerezwa kwubahirizwa mu bisata vyose vy’ubutungane, vy’intwaro hamwe n’inzego zose z’igihugu. … (Ingingo ya 48)
  • French
    Les droits fondamentaux doivent être respectés dans l’ensemble de l’ordre juridique, administratif et institutionnel. … (Art. 48)
Obligations of the State
  • English
    [The following] are of the domain of the law:
    1° The fundamental guarantees and obligations of the citizen:
    – safeguard of the individual freedom;
    – protection of the public freedoms;
    … (Art. 164)
  • Kirundi
    Ibitegerezwa kuringanizwa n’amabwirizwa ni ibi :
    1° Ivyubahiriza umunyagihugu n’ivyo asabwa ngenderwako :
    – kwubahiriza ukwishira n’ukwizana kwa zina muntu ;
    – gukingira ukwishira n’ukwizana kw’abanyagihugu ;
    … (Ingingo ya 164)
  • French
    Sont du domaine de la loi :
    1° Les garanties et obligations fondamentales du citoyen :
    - sauvegarde de la liberté individuelle;
    - protection des libertés publiques ;
    … (Art. 164)
1

Constitution of the Republic of Burundi 2005, as amended to 2018 (English), available in HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated Library (2024). According to Art. 5: “The national language is Kirundi. The official languages are Kirundi and all other languages determined by the law. All the legislative texts must have their version in Kirundi.”

2

Constitution of the Republic of Burundi 2005, as amended to 2018 (Kirundi).

3

Constitution of the Republic of Burundi 2005, as amended to 2018 (French).

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