Burundi : what we know about Papy Jamaica’s arrest following a dispute at the National Assembly

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, October 14, 2026 — Amani Papy Ndikumana, known as Papy Jamaica, an audiovisual producer contracted by the National Assembly of Burundi for maintenance services, was arrested on Monday, October 12, at the institution’s premises in Bujumbura, the country’s commercial capital. According to sources close to the case, Gélase Daniel Ndabirabe, Speaker of the National Assembly, ordered agents from the National Intelligence Service (SNR) to take him in after a meeting concerning a dispute between the service provider and two technicians. Contrary to some reports circulating after the incident, the head of communications, Aimée Nshimirimana, was not behind the arrest, these sources assert.

In an initial article, SOS Médias Burundi announced the detention of the audiovisual producer (read our previous publication:

). New information sheds light on the tensions that preceded his arrest and the roles attributed to various protagonists.

A contract worth 15 million Burundian francs per month

Papy Jamaica was responsible for maintaining the National Assembly’s audiovisual equipment under a monthly contract worth 15 million Burundian francs. He was also tasked with training staff in live broadcasting parliamentary proceedings and events organized by other institutions in a rented room within the Assembly.

To support him, Aimée Nshimirimana had appointed two technicians : Eraste Nduwayo, her deputy, and David Nzeyimana, head of the institution’s IT department.

Mutual accusations

According to National Assembly employees interviewed by SOS Médias Burundi, relations between the service provider and some staff members had deteriorated. They accuse Papy Jamaica of having insulted colleagues during meetings, calling them “idiots” and “mediocre.”

Tensions escalated at the closing of the 18th African Union meeting on security and disarmament, held at the National Assembly in Bujumbura from September 15 to 18, 2026. The producer then accused Eraste Nduwayo and David Nzeyimana of having sabotaged his work and of demanding money from him.

According to employees speaking on condition of anonymity, Papy Jamaica claims to have evidence, including payment slips. However, the exact nature of the payments mentioned, their context, and their potential link to the accusations remain to be established.

Some sources report that Eraste Nduwayo did not deny receiving sums of up to 2.5 million Burundian francs. The circumstances, frequency, and purpose of these payments remain unknown. IP addresses were also reportedly mentioned in connection with the sabotage accusations, but these details could not be independently verified.

Mediation two days before the arrest

On Saturday, October 10, after returning from his mission, Gélase Daniel Ndabirabe convened a meeting with the Secretary General of the National Assembly. Papy Jamaica presented his accusations against the two technicians at this meeting.

The Speaker of the Assembly intervened to try to resolve the dispute. The two men apologized to each other, and he asked them to formalize their reconciliation in writing. Despite this, the producer stated that he no longer wished to work with Eraste Nduwayo and David Nzeyimana.

His contract had not been terminated at the time of his arrest.

On Monday, October 12, Gélase Daniel Ndabirabe convened another meeting, which was attended by agents of the National Intelligence Service (SNR). Around 5:00 p.m., at the end of this meeting, they took Papy Jamaica into custody, according to information gathered by SOS Médias Burundi.

Sources attribute to the Speaker of the National Assembly remarks calling for the producer to be severely punished for his lack of respect for the institutions. The exact circumstances of these statements could not be independently established.

Aimée Nshimirimana implicated in some accounts

Following the arrest, some accounts suggested that Aimée Nshimirimana had accused Papy Jamaica of insulting the Speaker of the National Assembly and played a decisive role in his arrest.

Sources close to the case dispute this interpretation of events. They maintain that the communications officer was trying to understand the origin of the conflict between the service provider and the two technicians, and that she did not request his arrest.

The documents mentioned and the accusations exchanged remain to be examined to clarify the entire affair. However, on one point, sources close to the case are categorical : it was Gélase Daniel Ndabirabe, Speaker of the National Assembly, who asked the SNR agents to take Papy Jamaica into custody. They thus exonerate Aimée Nshimirimana, whose role in this arrest has been implicated in some accounts.