SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, April 30, 2025 – A few days before the World Press Freedom Day, the President of the National Communication Council (CNC), Espérance Ndayizeye, publicly expressed her surprise at Bonesha FM’s silence following the violent assault on one of its journalists on the Mutanga campus of the University of Burundi.

The journalist in question, Willy Kwizera, told the press that he had been held captive and tortured while reporting on the Mutanga campus in the commercial acity of Bujumbura. This was on Monday, April 28, 2025. This serious assault, however, was not officially reported to the CNC.

We discuss various topics every day, and we are surprised why Radio Bonesha did not contact the CNC so that it can intervene in this case, » said Ms. Ndayizeye, visibly disappointed. According to her, the CNC systematically intervenes when a journalist is in difficulty, provided it is informed.

The CNC president also revealed that her institution had not been alerted to the recent arrest of two journalists in Kinama—including our colleague Kwizera, who were detained for an entire day—on April 21. She called on the media to immediately report any incidents or violations of press freedom to enable a swift response.

Despite these incidents, Ms. Ndayizeye reassured the public that such situations do not reflect a decline in press freedom in Burundi. She cited the continued emergence of new media outlets as a sign of a vibrant media environment.

She finally urged journalists to exercise caution and professionalism in the field, while calling on authorities and information providers to facilitate their work, « because the information is intended for the public, » she insisted.

This statement comes as the climate remains tense ahead of the June 2025 elections, and just days before the World Press Freedom Day, celebrated on May 3.

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On the left, Espérance Ndayizeye takes office as the new head of the CNC, replacing Vestine Nahimana on the right, DR