Burundi: Surge In Threats Against Media And Journalists
August 08, 2024
Iwacu offices attacked with stones, journalists threatened by police officers, two journalists in prison, are among recent cases of threats against media and journalists in Burundi. Media professionals denounce censorship on the eve of 2025 elections.
By Egide Lucky
Unknown people attacked with stones Iwacu newspaper’s offices on the night of June 24, 2024
In the night of June 24, offices of Iwacu newspaper were attacked with stones possibly thrown from neighboring plots.
Known as a model of investigative journalism in Burundi, Iwacu newspaper is a reliable and trustworthy source of information in the central-east African country. Its journalists are sometimes victims of kidnapping, imprisonment, physical assaults, verbal attacks, among other threats.
As reported by Iwacu, the June 24 attack started at around 7 pm. Two journalists were still at work when security guards saw the first stone landing in the newspaper’s compound.
They alerted a nearby police station. Two police officers joined the security guards into a patrol around Iwacu offices. They did not see any person throwing the stones.
Around midnight, the attack intensified. “The security guards alerted their boss. The latter requested police intervention. After fifteen minutes, another patrol started with about twenty police officers. They were also welcomed by more stones being cast at the Iwacu offices.”
During the patrol, “Some residences around Iwacu opened their gates, others refused.” The source of the attack was not identified. The roof of the commercial office was damaged.
To date, criminals who hurled stones on Iwacu offices are still unknown. The newspaper’s management filed a complaint to Justice against an unknown person.
The National Council of Communication (CNC), media regulatory in Burundi, did not react against the attack.
Antoine Kaburahe, journalist and founder of the same newspaper, said that some measures were taken to ensure and improve security for Iwacu journalists and offices.
“We have instituted measures to keep readers informed, to ensure continuity of services. Iwacu cannot stop working, we must develop survival reflexes,” he said, without providing details.
Mr. Kaburahe deplored silence of some media organizations over the attack. “When the CNC talks about Iwacu, it is always to issue threats. The Press House has not spoken out, and its silence must be respected. Media outlets should normally be supportive and concerned when one of them is in trouble.”
Threats against Iwacu journalists amid censorship
Pascal Ntakirutimana, head of political desk at Iwacu newspaper, escaped a kidnapping in the evening of June 5 by two people in police uniform in Cibitoke neighborhood, north of Bujumbura City.
According to witnesses to the incident, they were aboard a white double-cab pick-up with tinted windows.
As reported by Iwacu, they tried to forcibly put the journalist in their car to take him away, in vain.
“It happened very quickly. I struggled. My smartphone fell to the ground. One of the police officers tried to pick it up. I took the opportunity to escape by entering through a nearby half-open gate to hide there. They did not follow me,” said Mr. Ntakirutimana, adding that he was concerned about his safety.
The incident reminded that of Jean Bigirimana, another Iwacu journalist who was kidnapped on July 22, 2016. To date, his whereabouts are still unknown. His biological and professional families think that the kidnappers might have killed him.
The failed kidnapping happened two weeks after another Iwacu journalist was threatened by a police officer in Gitega, Burundi political capital.
Jean-Noël Manirakiza, Iwacu correspondent in Gitega, was harassed in the night of May 22 in a bar by colonel Evariste Habogorimana, provincial police commissioner.
“We follow closely and know everything you write, you will see,” said the police officer.
After slapping the journalist, Evariste Habogorimana told his attendants to seize his work equipment (computer, camera, recorder, power bank, memory cards and cables). Mr. Manirakiza got back the equipment the following day.
It is important to note that the CNC did not comment or issue a communiqué to condemn the failed kidnapping and the threats against Iwacu journalists.
The media regulatory instead warned and accused Iwacu of “tendentious and defamatory treatment of information” in a letter sent to the newspaper on June 6.
The letter mentioned an interview with a political scientist conducted by Pascal Ntakirutimana and other stories which analyze current political and economic problems in Burundi.
“The CNC has noticed serious professional shortcomings in the treatment of news that you broadcast through your various platforms,” reads the letter to Iwacu, calling on the independent newspaper to always verify its sources and avoid publishing unbalanced information.
Other media outlets are not spared
The environment has also been hostile to other Burundian media outlets. Threats against journalists while doing their job increased.
On July 6, journalists Gaspard Ndikumazambo and Timothée Ntaconayigize from Izere FM, a local radio station based in Rumonge, south of Burundi, were manhandled by young people believed to be affiliated to the ruling party. The journalists tried to ask questions and take photos, as the young people were threatening a person they accused of stealing a telephone.
Gérard Nibigira, correspondent for Isanganiro radio-television in Gitega, was persecuted by the police commissioner of Gitega commune (in the political capital) on June 30, while doing his job.
Isanganiro is also one of the rare independent media operating in Burundi. It is, in fact, one of the private radio stations vandalized in May 2015 during a political crisis which resulted in a failed coup.
As reported by the same media, Gérard Nibigira was also jailed for three hours in a police dungeon after being harassed by the police officer. “Witnesses confirm that the officer accused the journalist of taking a picture when the officer was threatening people in queue at a gas station.”
Despite his release, the journalist did not get back his telephone. “He was told that it was taken by intelligence services.”
“We denounce this barbaric attitude towards journalists and the population,” posted Charles Makoto, Director of Isanganiro, on X.
Later, on July 12, the Isanganiro director deplored that a legal file had been opened against the journalist: “We are awaiting information on the file’s content and what our colleague is accused of. He only took a picture illustrating threats against peaceful citizens.”
The news about the imprisonment of Ahmadi Radjabu, video journalist at Akeza.net (online media) was, for the first time, published by SOS media, an online news outlet, on May 15.
Ahmadi Radjabu was arrested on May 2 and taken to the headquarters of the National Intelligence Service (SNR) the same day.
His imprisonment went off radars of the media stream in Burundi for almost two weeks. His employer did not alert.
He was arrested while taking images of the Ruvumera market in Bujumbura City, part of which had caught fire in the afternoon of May 2.
Reasons for his arrest were not communicated. It is said that he was accused of using a drone camera without permission. No law forbids journalists to use drone cameras while doing their job in Burundi.
The video journalist was released in the afternoon of May 16. He also got back his equipment, according to his employer.
Journalists contacted in Burundi slam an increase in threats against them while doing their job. For them, the threats intend to intimidate independent media on the eve of 2025 elections (municipality and legislative).
“These threats are a kind of censorship. Some police and administration officers consider independent media as enemies of the nation and the ruling party. They are wrong. The main role of the press and journalists is to inform the public. That’s what we do,” says a contacted journalist in Burundi.
For him, the government must accept the existence of independent media which can sometimes hold it to account.
Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye reaffirmed, in January 2021 to respect press freedom through “Never without media” slogan
Two journalists in prison, despite calls for their release
Two Burundian journalists, Sandra Muhoza and Floriane Irangabiye, are now in prison. They are currently the only female journalists in prison in Africa, according to RSF (Reporters without Borders).
Sandra Muhoza, reporter for La Nova (a local online news outlet), was arrested on April 13, 2024, in Ngozi, north of Burundi.
She was, later, taken to headquarters of the National Intelligence Service (SNR) in Bujumbura, economic capital, before a transfer to the Mpimba prison where she has been jailed since then.
Ms. Muhoza is accused of “undermining internal state’s security and ethnic aversion.”
Her lawyer, Prosper Niyoyankana, denounces political reasons behind her imprisonment.
On April 18, five Burundian media organizations called for her release. They are the Press House, Association of women journalists (AFJO) and Burundian association of Broadcasters (ABR), among others.
RSF and other international organizations also called on Burundian authorities to drop the charges against her and release her immediately.
Despite all calls for her release, the Burundian justice decided to keep her behind bars.
Floriane Irangabiye, journalist for an online radio Igicaniro based in Rwanda, was arrested on August 30, 2022, as she returned to Burundi. The radio is known for broadcasts and programs critical of the Burundian government.
She is currently jailed in Bubanza prison, north-west of Burundi, after passing by the SNR dungeons and Muyinga prison (north of Burundi).
In January 2023, the Mukaza high court sentenced her to 10 years as she was accused of “undermining the state’s internal security.” The conviction was upheld by the court of appeal later in March the same year.
At court, Floriane Irangabiye was accused of call for ethnic hatred and rebellion. The prosecutor also charged her with being an enemy of the nation.
Her lawyer, Eric Ntibandetse, said that the judgment was based on minutes taken by the SNR where interrogations took place at 2 a.m., without lawyer’s assistance. For him, the law cannot accept such a practice.
Their call for her immediate and unconditional release has not yet been accepted by the Burundian justice.
The press law, far from assuring safety to journalists
The press law in Burundi guarantees press freedom in the country. It is clear on the security of journalists and their equipment, their rights and duties. However, journalists are still victims of threats, intimidation and imprisonment, oftentimes for doing their job.
Burundian journalists have always called for decriminalization of press offenses. A new press law, adopted by the Parliament in May this year, is now waiting for presidential promulgation.
One of the motives behind the change of the 2018 press law is the “partial decriminalization of press offenses,” said Léocadie Ndacayisaba, Burundi minister of communication and media, as she introduced the new law to the National Assembly on May 7.
The new law specifies offenses to be sanctioned by fine, without necessarily jailing a journalist.
Media or journalists will face up BIF 500,000 ($173.5) to one million in fines if they publish information constituting an insult, harmful imputation and contempt; broadcast of false news; public outrage against good morals; slanderous denunciation; privacy violation; violation of the innocence presumption; and revelation of the identity of a sexual violence victim.
However, “other offenses committed through the press are punishable in accordance with the penal code and other specific laws,” reads the new press law.
It also states that “a journalist exercises his profession in complete independence and with total responsibility throughout the national territory of Burundi.”
It guarantees, for journalists, free access to sources of information, safety and security of their work equipment throughout the national territory.
“The government of Burundi should be the first to respect the press law and other national and international laws which promote press freedom,” said a contacted journalist who requested anonymity
For him, independent media and journalists are not enemies of the nation: “They are watchdogs to inform the public, tell the truth, expose wrongdoing and hold the power to account.”
He denounces impunity over threats and offenses against journalists. “People accused of persecuting journalists should be severely punished by the law.”
“Never without media”, just a slogan?
In January 2021, the Burundian media regulatory (CNC) organized a workshop on “the role and responsibility of the media in the development of the country, safeguard of social cohesion and protection of human rights.”
It was held under the slogan “Never without media” which was applauded by participants in the workshop enhanced by President Evariste Ndayishimiye.
With the slogan, media professionals looked ahead to a new era in the Burundian media landscape. Many believed the slogan meant an end to threats and imprisonments of journalists. The reopening of suspended media outlets and return of exiled journalists were also expected.
During the workshop, President Evariste Ndayishimiye called on a reconsideration of sanctions taken against some media outlets. He asked the CNC to talk with suspended media owners to find solutions.
As a result, Bonesha FM, a local radio station, resumed its services on February 26, 2021, after about 5 years of suspension. It had been destroyed alongside other private radio stations during the 2015 political crisis.
A year after the president’s call, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was also allowed, in March 2022, to broadcast in Burundi after a three-year suspension.
However, local private news outlets like Radio Publique Africaine (RPA) and Radio-television Renaissance remain suspended from broadcasting in Burundi. Same for the Voice of America (VOA).
Hundreds of journalists are still in exile. Some of them face international arrest warrants issued by the Burundian Justice, as they are accused of being among the 2015 failed coup plotters.
Three years after the launch of the slogan “Never without media”, the environment for the work of media and journalists in Burundi keeps deteriorating. The recent increase in threats against journalists proves that there is still a long way to go to guarantee press freedom in Burundi.
