Nairobi (AFP)

Four Burundian journalists imprisoned for more than a year and convicted of offenses related to state security were released after receiving a presidential pardon, according to the decree consulted by AFP on Thursday.

These four journalists from the Burundian private press group Iwacu - Agnès Ndirubusa, Christine Kamikazi, Egide Harerimana and Térence Mpozenzi - were arrested with their driver on October 22, 2019, in the province of Bubanza.

There they were investigating alleged clashes between security forces and an armed group from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Released, their driver Adolphe Masabarakiza was finally released, but the four journalists were sentenced in January to two and a half years of imprisonment for offenses related to state security, a sentence confirmed on appeal in June.

"Under the terms of this decree, the prisoners, Kamikazi Christine, Ndirubusa Agnès, Harerimana Egide and Mpozenzi Térence, benefit from the total reduction of custodial sentences", indicates the decree signed on December 23 by President Evariste Ndayishimye.

General Évariste Ndayishimiye was elected head of state on May 20, sparking a slight and brief hope of openness in Burundi.

He succeeded Pierre Nkurunziza - who died on June 9 - whose relentless desire to be elected in 2015 for a controversial third term has plunged his country into a serious crisis marked by summary executions, disappearances, arbitrary detentions, torture and violence sexuality targeting dissenting voices.

Iwacu is one of the last independent media in Burundi, which most human rights defenders and independent journalists have fled since 2015.

Founder and boss of Iwacu, Antoine Kaburahe told AFP of his "great relief".

"The four colleagues, I repeat, were not guilty of anything, they were doing their job. I am happy, they will be reunited with their families on Christmas Eve", he explained.

He thanked those who took part in the "great surge of support in Burundi and in the world" adding: "May this release open a new page for the Burundian media".

The Ambassador of the European Union to Burundi, Claude Bochu also expressed his "relief" and hailed an "excellent omen for the new year!".

Burundi's relations are heating up with the EU, which has taken sanctions against the country since 2015.

On October 22, 65 African and Burundian international human rights organizations denounced imprisonment on "baseless charges".

Burundi occupies the 159th place out of 180 in the press freedom ranking established by RSF, whereas it was considered before this crisis to be one of the few states in the Great Lakes region to have a free and independent press. .

© 2020 AFP