Bujumbura : two Jimbere journalists arrested while covering a 21-year-old land dspute

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, February 19, 2026 – Since Wednesday, February 18, 2026, journalists Olivier Manirambona and Aline Niyonizigiye, a camerawoman and breastfeeding mother, from Jimbere magazine, have been detained in the Ngagara zone jail, north of Bujumbura, Burundi’s commercial capital. They were arrested by the Ntahangwa prosecutor’s office while they were on their way to cover the implementation of a 21-year-old land dispute, which has been referred to the Ntahangwa First Instance Court, located north of the city.

The two journalists are held along with one of the parties to the conflict, Simeon Ngenzebuhoro, a former member of parliament. On Thursday, the three detainees appeared at a summary hearing, which was postponed until Friday due to Mr. Ngenzebuhoro’s lack of legal representation. Jimbere magazine wrote to the prosecutor in Ntahangwa requesting the release of its journalists, but has received no response to date, according to our sources.

A Jimbere representative, speaking to SOS Médias Burundi, denounced the arbitrary arrest, reiterating that its journalists had broken no laws and were simply fulfilling their role as independent reporters. The detention of Aline Niyonizigiye, separated from her child, is considered particularly unacceptable.

The magazine urges the court and the authorities to respect press freedom and to immediately release the journalists, while also calling on the national and international community to protect journalists’ rights in Burundi.

On the same Wednesday, three other journalists were arrested and detained for more than eight hours by the National Intelligence Service (SNR) in Bujumbura while covering the visit of Hadja Lahbib, the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management. Arrested on the premises of the Burundian Ministry of External Relations, they were taken to the SNR’s cells before being released in the evening, according to multiple sources.