NAIROBI – Burundian authorities should immediately and unconditionally release and quash the conviction of journalist Floriane Irangabiye who was arbitrarily arrested on 30 August
2022 and is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for criticizing the government,
Amnesty International, the Burundi Human Rights Initiative, the Committee to Protect
Journalists, and Human Rights Watch said.
“Floriane Irangabiye was convicted simply for doing her job as a radio journalist,” said
Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s regional director for East and Southern Africa.
“Her conviction and imprisonment are a travesty and flagrant violation of her rights to
freedom of expression and to a fair trial”.
On 2 January 2023, the Mukaza High Court in Bujumbura convicted Irangabiye of
endangering the integrity of the national territory, sentenced her to 10 years in prison
and imposed a fine of one million Burundian francs (approximately US$482), following a
deeply flawed trial during which the prosecutor failed to provide credible evidence.
Irangabiye’s prosecution violated her right to freedom of expression, as it was based on
comments made during a radio show for Radio Igicaniro, an online platform in exile, in
which she and other guests were critical of the Burundian government.
On 2 May, the Court of Appeal of Mukaza upheld the conviction. Although the court
found that Irangabiye’s initial interrogation by the National Intelligence Service violated
the Criminal Procedure Code because it was conducted without a lawyer present and
without informing her of her right to remain silent, it held that this did not nullify the
procedure. Her lawyers have filed an appeal to the Supreme Court.
Irangabiye has a long-standing medical condition, and her health has deteriorated while
in detention in Muyinga Prison. In May 2023, her lawyers submitted a formal request to
the Ministry of Justice for her to be transferred back to Bujumbura, where she was
initially detained and where she would be able to receive the necessary medical care
and be closer to her family. At time of writing, no response had been given to the
request.
“The failure to provide Irangabiye with adequate medical care is not only cruel, but a
sign of the state’s ruthlessness in silencing critics,” said the sub-Saharan Africa
representative of the Committee to Protect Journalists, Muthoki Mumo. “Authorities
should immediately provide her access to the necessary medical care and release her
unconditionally.”
The court’s conviction and sentencing of Irangabiye are based on a vaguely defined
crime that is open to misuse to persecute people for criticism and commentary.
Amnesty International, the Burundi Human Rights Initiative, the Committee to Protect
Journalists and Human Rights Watch believe her conviction and imprisonment are
punishment for her peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression, in violation
of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, to which Burundi is a state party.
Irangabiye was initially held without charge for several months, in violation of the
Burundian Criminal Procedure Code as well as international human rights standards.
“Floriane Irangabiye’s imprisonment shows that the crackdown against those who
criticize the government is far from over,” said Clémentine de Montjoye, Africa
researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Burundian authorities should carry out substantive
reforms to restore the independence of the justice system and repeal laws which
criminalize freedom of expression.”
Irangabiye’s arrest follows a well-established pattern of arbitrary detention and
prosecution of government critics and opponents on trumped-up charges.
“President Évariste Ndayishimiye must know about the imprisonment of Floriane
Irangabiye, but he refuses to speak out against it,” said Carina Tertsakian from the
Burundi Human Rights Initiative. “If he wants the world to believe in his promises of
reform, he should call for her immediate release and ensure that his government does
not use the justice system as a tool to target and persecute opponents and critics.”
For further information, see Amnesty International, “Burundi: Further information:
Detained journalist’s health at risk: Floriane Irangabiye,” 17 August 2023; The Burundi
Human Rights Initiative, “Floriane Irangabiye: another victim of politicised justice”, 8
February 2023; Committee to Protect Journalists, “Burundian journalist Floriane
Irangabiye’s health deteriorating in prison”, 25 July 2023; and Human Rights Watch,
“Burundi: Journalist’s Conviction Violates Free Speech Rights”, 2 February 2023.