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Alerts - Burundi

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Burundi

Prosecutor requests life imprisonment for journalist charged with terrorism

"It has already been demonstrated that this court is neither competent nor impartial, so the request for a life sentence is further evidence that the trial is a travesty orchestrated by the government," RSF said.

Burundi

Defence rights flouted in terrorism case involving RFI reporter

A reporter for Bonesha FM and RFI's Swahili-language service, Hassan Ruvakuki was arrested on 28 November 2011 after interviewing an alleged rebel group member.

Burundi

Intelligence agents arrest radio reporter for allegedly aiding rebels

Hassan Ruvakuki's arrest may have been prompted by Bonesha FM's broadcast of an interview with a Burundian citizen who identified himself as commander of a new rebel group in eastern Burundi.

Burundi

Summonses, threats and harassment part of everyday life for privately-owned media

"Attacks on press freedom have increased since the massacre in Gatumba at the end of September and have become almost daily in recent days," says RSF.

Burundi

Government urged to strengthen support for national human rights commission

The support is especially crucial because the UN Human Rights Council has ended the mandate of its independent expert on the human rights situation, says Human Rights Watch.

Burundi

Authorities urged to lift news blackout imposed after Gatumba massacre

The authorities have banned all live broadcasts of a political nature for one month and forbidden the media from covering the official inquiry launched into the massacre.

Burundi

Government critics face repeated arrests, questioning

Although the release of two of three lawyers arrested since mid-July was a positive step, the government should immediately end the harassment of both lawyers and journalists, Human Rights Watch and CPJ said.

Burundi

Radio journalists repeatedly summoned, fuelling hostile climate for media freedom

Radio Publique Africaine (RPA) and Radio Isanganiro, which are critical of the government, are being singled out by the authorities, says RSF.

Burundi

Online newspaper editor freed after 10 months in detention

Claude Kavumbagu was acquitted on a charge of treason for questioning in an article whether the country would be able to protect itself against a terrorist attack by Somalia's Islamist militia Al-Shabaab.

Burundi

State prosecutor seeks life sentence against online journalist

Journalist Jean-Claude Kavumbagu, who has been imprisoned since July 2010 over a column critical of the country's security forces, faces a life sentence on a charge of treason.

Burundi

Two years after activist slain, justice stalled

The government refused to issue a permit to a group of Burundian organizations that requested authorization to hold a silent protest march on the anniversary of Ernest Manirumva's killing.

Burundi

Lifting ban on activist group a positive step, says Human Rights Watch

The ban on the Forum for the Strengthening of Civil Society was lifted after the government responded positively to the group's efforts to reengage in dialogue.

Burundi

Two newspaper journalists held for 48 hours

Elyse Ngabire and Dieudonné Hakizimana were not given access to their lawyer during their arbitrary detention.

Burundi

Radio station staff arrested, harassed

RSF condemned the recent harassment of RPA employees by the authorities.

Burundi

Journalist released provisionally after three days in prison

Thierry Ndayishimiye is accused of "defamation" relating to the director general of the national electricity company.

Burundi

Editor arrested and detained on "defamation" charges

Thierry Ndayishimiye denounced the alleged embezzlement in the country's national water and electricity company.

Burundi

Online journalist faces life in prison on treason charge

Jean-Claude Kavumbagu was arrested over commentary critical of the country's security forces.

Burundi

Journalists under threat from mounting violence, political unrest

RSF is concerned about growing threats to the safety of journalists in the run-up to the presidential election.

Burundi

Government cancels work permit of Human Rights Watch researcher

The government made its decision following Human Rights Watch's publication of a report on pre-election violence in the country.

Burundi

Reverse ban on civil society group, Human Rights Watch urges

This is the first nongovernmental organization to be banned in Burundi, a worrisome development as the country gears up for presidential elections.

Burundi

Journalist summoned after radio show reveals public criticism of judicial authorities

Radio host Jean Bosco Ndayiragije was summoned to appear at the prosecutor's office following a report broadcast on his station that criticised judicial authorities.

Burundi

Journalist receives death threats from senior official

Marc Niyonkuru, a correspondent for Radio Isanganiro, has received death threats from Pasteur Bucumi, Director General of City Planning.

Burundi

News website editor Jean-Claude Kavumbagu acquitted of defamation after six months in detention

(JED/IFEX) - On 18 March 2009, Jean-Claude Kavumbagu, editor of the Net Press news website, was acquitted of defaming Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza and released from Mpimba central prison, where he has been detained since 11 September 2008. The decision to release the editor was made the night before, but the procedure took 24 hours.

Burundi

Website editor jailed for reporting on president's extravagant spending during Beijing trip

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders calls for the release of Jean-Claude Kavumbagu, the editor of the Net Press news website ( http://www.netpress.bi/ ), who was arrested and jailed on 11 September 2008 for allegedly defaming the government in a report about how much the president spent on his visit to the Beijing Olympic Games.

Burundi

State TV employee killed; cameraman narrowly escapes death in separate attack

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders calls on the Burundian authorities to thoroughly investigate the 12 May 2008 murder of Cécile Ndikumana, an employee of the sales department of state-owned Radio Télévision Nationale du Burundi (RTNB), and the attempted murder of RTNB cameraman Hilaire Minani in a separate incident the same day.

Burundi

Group of demobilised soldiers raids privately-owned radio station

(JED/IFEX) - On 1 February 2008, a group of individuals including five demobilised soldiers of the Burundian army raided Radio publique africaine (RPA), a privately-owned radio station based in Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi. Witnesses told JED that "the demobilised soldiers belonged to the faction of the Conseil National pour la Défense de la Démocratie-Force pour la défense de la démocratie (CNDD-FDD)", the ruling party.

Burundi

Court acquits radio journalists charged with "endangering security"

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 3 January 2007 CPJ press release:

Burundi

Prosecutor seeks three-year prison sentences for three journalists

(MFWA/IFEX) - Three radio journalists in Burundi face prison sentences if found guilty on charges resulting from material they broadcast a few months ago.

Burundi

Anti-graft activist arrested, charged with defaming businessman; peace activist tried over letter to president, awaiting verdict; trial date set for radio journalists charged for reports on fake coup plot

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is an 11 December 2006 Human Rights Watch press release:

Burundi

Journalist summoned by prosecutor goes missing; IFJ calls for end of intimidation campaign against independent journalism

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 5 December 2006 IFJ media release:

Burundi

Bonesha FM director summoned by prosecutor

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is outraged by the wave of arrests of journalists in the capital city, Bujumbura. In the latest incident, on 1 December 2006, the director of the privately-owned radio station Bonesha FM, Corneille Nibaratu, was summoned by the public prosecutor, a prelude to his probable incarceration in Mpimba central prison.

Burundi

Third radio journalist jailed in growing crackdown

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 29 November 2006 CPJ press release:

Burundi

Prosecutor questions journalists on sources in aborted coup case

(JED/IFEX) - On 28 November 2006, Bob Rugurika and Christelle Ruvari, journalists with the Bujumbura-based, privately-owned radio station Radio publique africaine (RPA), were questioned by the Bujumbura Prosecutor's Office.

Burundi

Two more journalists summoned in case of alleged coup plot

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 23 November 2006 IFJ media release:

Burundi

Journalists imprisoned for "violating judicial secrecy"

(JED/IFEX) - On 22 November 2006, Serges Nibizi, an executive producer with the independent Bujumbura-based radio station Radio publique africaine (RPA), and Domitile Kiramvu, a journalist with the station, were arrested on orders of the Bujumbura Prosecutor's Office. The two were later transferred to the Mpimba central prison, where they are currently being held.

Burundi

Journalist released after five months of incarceration

(JED/IFEX) - Journalist in Danger (JED) has welcomed the 30 October 2006 release of Aloys Kabura, a Kayanza-based correspondent for the Burundian Press Agency (Agence burundaise de presse, ABP). Kayanza is a province located in northern Burundi. The journalist spent five months in jail in the central prison of Ngozi.

Burundi

Authorities question three journalists in continuing campaign of intimidation against radio stations

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 2 October 2006 CPJ press release:

Burundi

Radio station director forced into hiding again by continued government harassment

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 28 September 2006 CPJ press release:

Burundi

News agency reporter gets five months in prison for criticising government in a bar

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced "deep concern about the future of democracy in Burundi" after Aloys Kabura, the state-owned Agence Burundaise de Presse's correspondent in the northern city of Kayanza, was sentenced on 18 September 2006 by a court in Ngozi to five months in prison for "rebellion" and "defamatory statements."

Burundi

Journalists receive death threats as ruling party supporters target radio station in aggressive campaign

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about the growing hostility of the ruling party's supporters towards the privately-owned radio station Isanganiro. The station's editor is the target of a campaign of threats and smears and one of its journalists was roughed up during a ruling coalition meeting.

Burundi

Ruling party leader makes threatening comments towards media in public address

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has said it was appalled by ruling party chief Hussein Radjabu's threatening comments towards the press on 3 September 2006 and, in particular, his personal attack on Emmanuel Nsabimana, a journalist with Radio ONUB, a station operated by the local UN mission.

Burundi

Radio station director comes out of hiding, but fears for his safety once again following partial closure of station

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 21 August 2006 CPJ press release:

Burundi

African Public Radio's Ngozi-based station closed

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has condemned the 18 August 2006 decision by the Telecommunications Regulation Agency (Agence de régulation et de contrôle des télécommunications, ARCT) to close privately-owned African Public Radio's station in Ngozi, northern Burundi. The station had allegedly "considerably surpassed" the time period that it was licenced to use its radio frequency.

Burundi

Journalists threatened by authorities; RSF appeals to president to improve poisonous relations between government and press

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has written to Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza voicing concern about the pernicious state of relations between his government and the media, and the alarming number of press freedom violations during his first year in office.

Burundi

CPJ condemns harassment of radio director

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 4 August 2006 CPJ press release:

Burundi

Legal irregularities keep outspoken news agency reporter in prison

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of Aloys Kabura of the government-owned Agence Burundaise de Presse (ABP), who has been kept in detention for the past two weeks in the northern city of Kayanza by means of legal irregularities and manoeuvres by the local prosecutor. Kabura was arrested on 31 May 2006 for criticising the government while in a bar.

Burundi

Journalist jailed for publicly criticising the government

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of RSF's alert:

Burundi

Activist imprisoned, faces charges of "threatening state security"

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a Human Rights Watch press release:

Burundi

Police hold journalists hostage at parliamentarian's home after ruling party quarrel

(RSF/IFEX) - The action of the Bujumbura police in holding around 20 journalists hostage at the home of parliamentarian Mathias Basabose for more than seven hours on 17 April 2006 was "absurd and astounding," said Reporters Without Borders. The reporters had been invited to a press conference about Basabose's expulsion from the ruling party.

Burundi

RPA allowed to resume broadcasting

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has hailed a 27 July 2005 decision by the National Communications Council (Commission nationale de la communication, CNC) to allow the privately-owned radio station Radio Publique Africaine (RPA) to resume broadcasting.

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