Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has raised serious concerns over a surge in violence targeting journalists in Burundi, just weeks before the country’s legislative and local elections set for June 5. The media watchdog reports a growing climate of intimidation, including arbitrary arrests, physical assaults, and repeated threats—most allegedly involving security forces and members of the ruling party’s youth wing, the Imbonerakure.
This worsening situation has contributed to Burundi’s sharp drop in the RSF 2025 World Press Freedom Index, where it now ranks 125th out of 180 countries—a fall of 17 places from the previous year. RSF has called on Burundian authorities to urgently take steps to guarantee the safety of media professionals across the country.
Since early April, at least four serious incidents have been documented. The most recent involved Willy Kwizera, a journalist from independent station Bonesha FM, who was abducted and brutally assaulted on April 28 while reporting on student conditions at the University of Burundi. He was reportedly detained, robbed, and beaten by individuals believed to be affiliated with the Imbonerakure, only released after being coerced into signing a statement accusing him of disturbing public order and collaborating with exiled dissidents. Kwizera is now reportedly receiving further threats.
The response from authorities has been minimal. Bonesha FM director Raymond Nzimana said he raised the matter with the National Communication Council (CNC), which denies any official contact. Meanwhile, the University of Burundi dismissed the incident in a public statement. In response to the attacks, eight leaders from major Burundian media outlets issued a joint statement on May 3, condemning violence against journalists, including the assault on Kwizera.
This is not the first time Kwizera has faced such treatment. On April 21, he and another journalist, Ahmed Masudi Mugiraneza from Nderagakura Radio, were violently arrested by police while covering a peaceful demonstration over the closure of a microfinance institution—despite clearly identifying themselves as journalists.
Other recent cases include the prolonged detention of a community radio journalist at a police checkpoint on April 6 and the violent arrest of an online media reporter on April 3 while covering environmental pollution near Lake Tanganyika. Both incidents involved harassment, public humiliation, and threats, allegedly from police or ruling party affiliates.
The attacks reflect a deteriorating press environment in Burundi, where journalists have faced years of repression, particularly since the 2015 political crisis. Several independent outlets have been shut down, and surveillance and censorship remain prevalent. Notably, journalist Sandra Muhoza has been in detention since April 2024 for sharing sensitive information in a private news professionals’ group on WhatsApp.
RSF’s Sub-Saharan Africa director, Sadibou Marong, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that these escalating attacks aim to silence the independent press during a crucial pre-election period. He called on the Burundian government to ensure the safety of all journalists and to hold perpetrators accountable.