Dr. Gilbert Hagabimana holds a PhD in Public International Law (magna cum laude) from the University of Bayreuth, Germany, an LL.M. from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and a Diplôme de Licence en Droit from the University of Burundi. He has several other advanced professional courses in human rights law, with a particular focus on the African human rights system.

Dr. Hagabimana is an accomplished human rights lawyer and member of the Burundi Bar Association. He has served as an Advocate and Senior Associate at Alpha Justice Chambers – one of Burundi’s leading law firms, from 2015-2021. His professional experience also includes service as a Senior Legal Expert at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (2021-2023) and as a Legal Assistant at the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, where he contributed to legal research, drafting, and institutional processes.

Dr. Hagabimana has served as a member of the advisory board of Culture and Development East Africa-CDEA (2016-2023), a creative think tank based in Dar es Salaam that leverages culture, technology, and innovation to address social, political, and economic challenges in East Africa. Since 2014, he has served as a Visiting Senior Lecturer at various universities in Burundi including theUniversité du Burundi, Université Martin Luther King de Bujumbura, Université Lumière de Bujumbura, teaching and researching in Public International Law and International Human Rights Law. Prior to joining IHRDA, he held the position of Senior Lecturer at the University of Burundi.