Supreme Court of Burundi


The Supreme Court is the highest civil and criminal court in Burundi. It has nine members, including the Court President, who are nominated by the Judicial Service Commission and appointed by the President of the Republic after the approval of the Senate. The court's president is referred to as the Chief Justice.
The composition of the Supreme Court was established as a Court of Cassation with the independence of Burundi in 1962. Its current form is regulated by the Law of 25 February 2005. It is composed of three chambers which are known collectively as the United Chambers :
  • Judicial Chamber ;
  • Administrative Chamber ;
  • Chamber of Cassation.
The Judicial Chamber is sub-divided into two sections: a Section of First Instance and an Appellate Section. Attached is the National Department of Public Prosecutions.
The Supreme Court may sit together with the Constitutional Court constituting the High Court of Justice which has special powers, such as the ability to try an incumbent president or government ministers for treason.

History

Article 94 of the 1962 constitution of the Kingdom of Burundi provided for a Supreme Court. The constitution gave the court sole competence over criminal cases against government ministers and members of the Parliament, as well as questions of constitutionality of laws and disputes between different branches of government. The court was given competence to retry decisions made by the judiciary before independence. An Accounts Court was brought into service as a special chamber of the Supreme Court in May 1975 to try cases of government corruption.

List of chief justices

This list of all chief justices :
NameTook officeLeft officeNotes
André Masunzu19631963
Alois Malorerwa19641964
Joseph Bukera19671974
Gaétan Rugambara19741976
Vincent Ndikumasabo19771977
Pasteur Nzinahora19781987
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Gérard Buyoya19881989
Thérence Sinunguruza19901990
Timothée Bisumbagutira19951995
Juvénal Njinyari19951995
Salvator Seromba19951998
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Ladislas Ndayisenga19981998
Timothée Bisumbagutira19991999
Adrien Nyankiye20002005
Ancilla Ntakaburimvo20062011
Jean-Marie Ngendanzi20112011
Emmanuel Jenje20122014
Sylvestre Mpawenayo20152016
François Nkezabahizi20162019
Emmanuel Gateretse28 Octobre 201918 November 2024
Ambassador Gamaliel Nkurunziza19 November 2024Present

Works cited

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