Burundi

French reporter Jean-Philippe Rémy, who covers Africa for the French daily Le Monde, and British freelance photographer Philip Moore were among a total of 17 persons arrested on 28 January 2016.

Freedom House sat down with activist Bob Rigurika to talk about human rights and freedom of expression in Burundi in the aftermath of his release from prison in 2015.

SOS Médias Burundi is a collective of journalists that emerged spontaneously within 48 hours of the destruction of the radio stations during the May 2014 coup attempt and which continues to provide anonymous coverage of events in this troubled country.

“Burundi is at a severe disadvantage without an active civil society, and any remaining legitimacy is slipping away with these oppressive tactics.”

RTNB cameraman Christophe Nkezabahizi, his wife and two of their children, were shot dead by security forces on 13 October in Bujumbura. The Burundian Union of Journalists said that the cameraman was targeted for being a media worker.

Burundian intelligence officials, police, and youth from the ruling party have arbitrarily arrested and ill-treated scores of suspected opponents.

The undersigned organizations denounce the continued attacks on and threats to journalists, media workers and human rights defenders, most recently the incidents in which human rights defender Pierre Claver Mbonimpa survived an attempt on his life, while journalist Esdras Ndikumana was the victim of a brutal attack by police and intelligence officials.

A leading Burundian human rights defender, Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, was shot and injured on the evening of August 3, 2015, in the capital, Bujumbura. He is in intensive care.

In an open letter, the leaders of 15 groups urged President Pierre Nkurunziza, who is seeking a third term in office in a poll scheduled for July 15, to allow shuttered media outlets to reopen and operate without interference.

Based on interviews with medical personnel and other sources, Human Rights Watch believes that since demonstrations began on April 26, 2015, at least 27 people have been killed during the demonstrations or died from wounds inflicted during the demonstrations.

Eighty percent of the production equipment at private media outlets has been damaged. They have been accused of broadcasting statements by coup supporters.

Journalists are being harassed and radio stations prevented from broadcasting in an attempt to contain protests. The demonstrations have occured in the wake of a recent announcement that President Pierre Nkurunziza will run for a third term.

Since Rugurika’s arrest in January, there has been a huge public mobilization campaign by Burundian journalists and independent groups.

Bob Rugurika was arrested days after his radio station broadcast a series of investigative reports into the September 2014 murder of three elderly Italian nuns in the country. The broadcasts included allegations about the involvement of senior intelligence officials in the attack on the convent.

Pierre Claver Mbonimpa was arrested on 15 May 2014 after speaking on the radio about allegations that young Burundians were being armed and given military training in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

“The Burundian government should stop any further politicization of the justice system and ensure the courts are not used to collectively punish opponents ahead of the 2015 national elections.”