A journalist in Burundi faces severe charges of “endangering internal security,” potentially leading to life imprisonment, amidst allegations of mistreatment by authorities during interrogation.
Sandra Muhoza, 42, employed by the online outlet La Nova Burundi, was apprehended by the National Intelligence Service last weekend in Bujumbura, the country’s economic hub. According to her legal representatives and family, Muhoza was subjected to physical abuse during questioning.
She was formally charged on Thursday and subsequently transferred to Mpimba prison in Bujumbura, as confirmed by a confidential source within the judiciary.
Allegedly, Muhoza’s arrest stemmed from comments made in a journalists’ WhatsApp group regarding the purported distribution of machetes to Imbonerakure, the youth wing of the ruling CNDD-FDD party. Her relatives claim that she endured maltreatment, including being blindfolded, handcuffed, and given minimal sustenance.
Although these accusations have surfaced, authorities have yet to address them, despite requests for clarification from media outlets.
This incident underscores ongoing concerns about press freedom and human rights in Burundi, a nation grappling with poverty. Journalists in the country have frequently faced intimidation and repression.
A coalition of organizations advocating for journalists in Burundi has called for Muhoza’s release and urged solidarity from fellow journalists. Additionally, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) expressed apprehension over her arrest and detention, echoing worries about the broader environment for press freedom in Burundi.
Last year, RSF ranked Burundi 114th out of 180 countries in its Press Freedom Index, highlighting a climate of fear and repression among journalists. The sentencing of journalist Floriane Irangabiye to a decade in prison in 2023 further exemplifies the risks faced by media practitioners in the country, with the specifics of the charges remaining undisclosed
