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Reporters Without Borders Annual Report 2007 - Burundi

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Area: 27,830 sq. km.
Population: 7,548,000.
Languages: French, Kirundi, Swahili.
Head of state: Pierre Nkurunziza.

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The fairly-won election victory in 2005 of a former Hutu rebel movement changed the landscape for journalists. In 2006 privately-owned radio stations became the bête noire of the new ruling party, particularly after they cast doubt on the authenticity of a coup attempt allegedly foiled by the security services.

However much President Pierre Nkurunziza, elected head of state in 2005, may have vaunted his commitment to freedom of the press, nothing was done in practice. Journalists in Burundi entered a period of threats and uncertainty in 2006. Four of them were imprisoned. Several others left the country, for fear of falling in their turn into a trap set for those working in the media by the security services who viewed them as "trouble-makers". The government went in for denial, while the presidential press crowed over the misfortunes of their colleagues.

It all began in Bujumbura on 17 April, when a dissident deputy in the ruling coalition, Mathias Basabose, the former presidential campaign manager, called a press conference at his home to give his version of events about a dispute within the party. At 3.30 pm when around 20 journalists had gathered at his home, some 50 police officers toting assault rifles surrounded the house and kept the journalists inside hostage, without explanation, until 11pm.

Some who tried to leave the house despite the cordon were struck with rifle butts. The journalists were only allowed to leave following the intervention of the Bujumbura police chief, after the incident had provoked an outcry in the profession and international radio correspondents had reported live on their plight with the help of mobile phones.

Basabose had been expelled two days earlier from the ruling National Council for the Defence of Democracy-Front for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) in a row with the powerful party leader, Hussein Radjabu, about embezzlement of funds and political manoeuvring aimed at perverting the course of justice.

A few days later, Aloys Kabura, correspondent in Kayanza, northern Burundi for the state-run news agency Agence burundaise de presse (ABP), was arrested for making critical remarks in a bar about the government and the presidential party's actions in this case. The powerful intelligence services laid a complaint against him for "rebellion". He was sent to the Ngozi central prison and though in poor health he was sentenced to five months in prison, on 18 September, three and a half months after his arrest and without his lawyers or family being informed of the hearing. A magistrate came to announce the verdict to him within the prison on the following day. He was released on 31 October, after completing his sentence.

Investigative work leads to prison

During the summer, the alleged foiling of a supposed coup attempt, plotted by former president Domitien Ndayizeye, the truth of which was challenged by many of the independent media, gave a new twist to the downward spiral. Head of the privately-owned Radio publique africaine (RPA), Alexis Sinduhije, publicly condemned what he termed a "set up job" by the "hard-liners" of the CNDD-FDD, on the authority of Hussein Radjabu.

From the start of the foiled coup episode, Alexis Sinduhije and those who quoted him – that is most of Bujumbura's privately-owned radio stations – began to be targeted by the presidential party and its media as "hate radio" and as "manipulators" seeking to bring down "democratically elected institutions". To punish the RPA for its stance, the authorities, on 18 August, ordered the closure of its station in Ngozi, the day after a statement by the president warned against "some radios and some journalists who have set themselves up as judge and jury". Rumours of imminent arrests, anonymous threats and verbal attacks became the daily lot of journalists over several weeks, including condemnations made in person by Hussein Radjabu, in front of thousands of CNDD-FDD activists who rallied at the Bujumbura stadium on 3 September.

The threats turned into reality on 21 November when Serge Nibizi, chief editor at RPA and Domitile Kiramvu, a star presenter at the station were placed in detention at Mpimba central prison after appearing before the Bujumbura prosecutor. They were charged with "broadcasting news damaging to state security" and "violating the confidentiality of investigation". They were joined, on 29 November, by Mathias Manirakiza, head of the privately-owned radio Isanganiro. Corneille Nibaruta, director of privately-owned Bonesha FM, escaped imprisonment, on 1st December, by fleeing the country. They were all accused in connection with the dissemination of a news report in August that the army had allegedly planned the attack on the presidential palace and on the home of the leader of the presidential party with the aim of using it at evidence of the alleged coup, the existence of which had been contested by the independent media.

The news that got them thrown in prison had however appeared in the bi-monthly Intumwa (The Messenger), the organ of the presidential party, when the file had not yet been sent before the courts. No journalist on this publication has ever been questioned.

Topics: Freedom of expression,