Ernest Minani, nicknamed Agrippeche, an influential and well-known trader in the southern provinces of Burundi, owner of a network of hotels and petrol stations, was arrested Saturday afternoon by the prosecutor of Makamba (southern Burundi), Alexandre Ndayikeza, at his hotel located in the town center of the Nyanza-Lac district. His arrest follows a warrant issued for two charges : rape and sexual harassment. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

This arrest comes a few days after the release of Adonette Manirakiza, Minani’s partner, detained for 11 days on the orders of the same prosecutor. A graduate of a Burundian university, Adonette was jailed in mid-December by deputy-prosecutor Sylvestre Ndayegamiye, at the request of Ernest Minani.

According to the information gathered, the latter wanted to have his partner arrested after discovering that she was planning to get engaged to a young man of her age. Minani, who is said to have recently offered Adonette 3,500,000 Tanzania shillings in capital to start a business, also accuses her of owing him 19 million Burundi francs, allegedly spent on her support since she was 16. At that time, she was still in the 8th grade of primary school.

A release under pressure

Adonette’s release on Jan. 1 was precipitated by the wide dissemination of her case on social media. The case was also raised at a press conference held last Friday by Révérien Ndikuriyo, secretary general of the CNDD-FDD, which accelerated the judicial intervention against Minani.

Currently, Ernest Minani is held in the Makamba prosecutor’s cell, where he is awaiting the continuation of the legal proceedings.