Radio journalist Blaise Celestin Ndihokubwayo has been arrested by the military for covering unrest on the outskirts of the Burundi capital, Bujumbura.
According to a post on the Facebook page of SOS Médias Burundi, a group of exiled Burundi journalists, Ndihokubwayo, a reporter for the privately owned station Radio Isanganiro, was arrested last Friday and handed over to the National Intelligence Service.
This is the second time in recent weeks that Ndihokubwayo has been arrested. He was detained for a few hours on October 27, while covering unrest in northern Bujumbura, according to a November 8 Facebook post on SOS Médias Burundi. Ndihokubwayo was not told the reason for his arrest on that occasion.
Radio Isanganiro and its website cover mostly current events and politics and, was among several privately owned radio stations that came under attack for reporting on events in Bujumbura during an attempted coup in May.
Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists has urged the Burundian authorities to release Ndihokubwayo, who has not been charged or told the reason for his arrest.
“Ever since the attempted coup in May, the independent press in Burundi has been under attack,” said CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney. “Many journalists have fled the country. Those who remain are trying to work but the authorities seem intent on preventing them from covering hard news. This must stop.”
“Ever since the attempted coup in May, the independent press in Burundi has been under attack,” said CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney. “Many journalists have fled the country. Those who remain are trying to work but the authorities seem intent on preventing them from covering hard news. This must stop.”
According to the CPJ, the situation in Burundi remains volatile after the failed coup and the contested reelection of President Pierre Nkurunziza in July. Dozens of journalists are among the thousands of citizens who have fled violence in the country.
