Burundi’s Supreme Court has upheld the life sentence of former Prime Minister Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni, a once-powerful figure in the country’s regime.

Bunyoni served as prime minister from mid-2020 until his dismissal in September 2022, just days after President Evariste Ndayishimiye had warned of an alleged coup plot against him.

Bunyoni was convicted on a range of serious charges, including attempting to overthrow the government, using witchcraft to threaten the president’s life, destabilizing the economy, and illegal enrichment.

The Supreme Court’s decision came after Bunyoni’s appeal trial at the end of May, in which he again pleaded not guilty and requested a full acquittal. However, the court ultimately upheld the life sentence handed down in December 2023.

In addition to the life sentence, the court also ordered the confiscation of Bunyoni’s undeclared assets, including four houses, buildings, a land parcel, and 14 vehicles. Five other co-defendants received sentences ranging from 3 to 15 years, while one defendant was acquitted.

Bunyoni’s downfall marks a significant shift in Burundi’s political landscape under President Evariste Ndayishimiye, who took power in 2020 and has been praised by the international community for gradually ending the country’s isolation.

Despite the praises, Ndayishimiye has struggled to improve Burundi’s dire human rights record, and the country remains one of the poorest in the world.