Burundi: the four journalists from Iwacu have been released
The four Iwacu journalists and their driver in front of the Bubanza court, December 30, 2019. Tchandrou Nitanga / AFP
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5 mins
After 430 days in prison, the four journalists from Burundian media Iwacu were released on Thursday, December 24.
Accused of undermining state security, they were arrested on October 22, 2019 and sentenced to two and a half years of detention following a much criticized legal procedure.
Évariste Ndayishimiye finally granted them a presidential pardon.
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They can spend Christmas with their family.
Christine Kamikazi, Agnès Ndirubusa, Egide Harerimana and Térence Mpozenzi, the four journalists from Iwacu, are free.
They were released on Thursday.
A release they owe to Évariste Ndayishimiye, the President of Burundi, elected in May and in office since June.
Willy Niamitwé, head of the information and communication office at the Burundian presidency, told our colleagues in the Kiswahili editorial staff of
RFI
:
“
I would first like to recall that the four journalists who are released by presidential pardon have previously sent the President of the Republic of Burundi a request for a presidential pardon, to which he responded favorably.
In addition, the four journalists paid the fines at their expense.
They behaved well, they behaved in an exemplary manner during their detention.
All these elements argued for their forgiveness.
"
The four journalists were arrested on October 22, 2019 while they were reporting.
They were then
sentenced to two and a half years in detention
, following much criticized legal proceedings.
Welcoming "
the measure taken by the Head of State
", Antoine Kaburahe, the founder and director of publications of the press group Iwacu, confides:
“
This is really good news.
They will be reunited with their families, their parents, their friends.
We are so happy with this news this evening, on Christmas Eve.
I really hope that this release is the start of a new page for the media in Burundi.
Many journalists are in exile, many media are not functioning, including the BBC.
If this could be the start of a new story, of a new collaboration between the media and the authorities, because Burundi really needs free media.
Burundi is on the road to reconstruction.
Any democracy needs a quality press.
For our part, we will of course continue to work in this perspective.
"
URGENT
Agnès, Christine, Egide, Térence released after 430 days in prison. Accused of breaching state security, they were sentenced to 2 and a half years of detention without proof of these allegations. presidential pardon.
@iwacuinfo welcomes this release pic.twitter.com/KsHt71Ou4E
- IWACU Burundi (@iwacuinfo) December 24, 2020
“Burundi really needs free media.
Any democracy needs a quality press.
"
Antoine Kaburahe, founder and director of publications of the Burundian press group Iwacu
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Burundi
Évariste Ndayishimiye
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