Burundi prosecutor seeks 15-year prison term for Iwacu journalists
Nairobi, January 3, 2020—Burundi’s public prosecutor on December 30 asked for a 15-year prison term for four journalists for privately owned online news outlet Iwacu and their driver who are charged with undermining state security, according to Iwacu and other news reports. The prosecutor is also seeking to have the five stripped of their right…
Burundi police arrest Iwacu journalists covering unrest
Nairobi, October 23, 2019—Authorities in Burundi should immediately release four journalists and a media worker from the privately-owned news outlet Iwacu, whom police detained in the western Bubanza province yesterday, the Committee to Protect Journalists said.
CPJ joins call for U.N. Human Rights Council to extend mandate of Burundi Commission of Inquiry
The Committee to Protect Journalists today joined 40 other civil society organizations in calling on member and observer states of the U.N. Human Rights Council to extend for a year the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi.
Banned from broadcasting since 2018, BBC closes bureau in Burundi
On July 16, 2019, the British Broadcasting Corporation said it had closed its bureau in Burundi, more than one year after its transmissions had been banned in the country, according to a report by the broadcaster and a BBC statement sent to CPJ.
Burundi media regulator bans BBC and VOA
Nairobi, April 2, 2019 — Authorities in Burundi should fully restore broadcasting rights to the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Voice of America, and allow journalists in the country to contribute to the two organizations, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
In Burundi, three journalists attacked and prevented from covering protest
Police on August 27 allegedly attacked three journalists with the privately owned station Radio Culture and prevented them from reporting on a land dispute in Ngagara, a neighborhood in the capital, Bujumbura, according to two of the journalists and a Facebook post by SOS Médias Burundi, a collective of independent journalists that reports on the…
Burundi media regulator suspends BBC and VOA, warns other broadcasters
Nairobi, May 7, 2018–Authorities in Burundi should immediately lift a six-month licensing suspension imposed on radio broadcasts of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Voice of America (VOA), the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Burundi’s National Communication Council (CNC), the media industry regulator, on May 4 accused the two stations of breaching the country’s…
Mounting press freedom crisis in Burundi
Nairobi, October 25, 2016–The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed alarm about the deteriorating situation for the media in Burundi. In the past three days alone, the Interior Ministry closed the country’s journalists’ union and security forces detained reporters on assignment.
CPJ calls on Burundi to release Radio Maria reporter
Nairobi, October 13, 2016–Burundi’s national intelligence service should immediately release radio journalist Salvador Nahimana, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police detained Nahimana, a reporter for the Burundian branch of Radio Maria, a global station that broadcasts news and missionary statements, on October 2, and transferred him to the custody of the intelligence service,…
Burundian intelligence service detains journalist one week without charge
Burundian authorities detained Gisa Steve Irakoze, a reporter for the independent Radio Buja FM on August 18, 2016, and released him without charge a week later, rights groups and the National Union of Journalists in Burundi reported.