Burundi-Press: journalist Sandra Muhoza appeared in council chambers

Our colleague appeared this Monday morning before three judges at the Mukaza court in the commercial city Bujumbura. They will decide whether to release him provisionally or not. The decision must be communicated no later than 48 hours, according to the penal code in force in Burundi. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Sandra Muhoza and her defense had time to explain themselves to the judges of the court which sentenced Floriane Irangabiye, another Burundian journalist, to 10 years in prison in January 2023. The lawyer Prosper Niyoyankana, one of her lawyers is already denouncing some shortcomings.

“Personally, I was surprised, I was sorry to see that a person prosecuted for acts allegedly committed in Ngozi (northern Burundi) by a person residing and working in Ngozi, could be referred to the public prosecutor’s office in Mukaza while there is a public prosecutor’s office in Ngozi[…] as if in Bujumbura there would be more skills than in Ngozi. In reality, the law is clear. In Ngozi and in Bujumbura, there is same competence”, he told local media reporters who were able to travel during this period when the fuel shortage is at its peak, its consequences not sparing an already poor press in Burundi.

For Niyoyankana, “the first accusation against Sandra Muhoza is the attack on the integrity of the national territory for facts which concern words, exchanges between colleagues, between professional friends and I would say friends of the same age, so I do not believe that this could have had any effect in terms of security, in terms of reaching the national territory.

The attack on the integrity of the national territory would mean that there are armed agents who would have invaded, let’s say at the request of Mrs. Sandra while there is not a single other element except that the exchanges between fellow journalists”.

Involvement of others

There is also the manifestation of racial aversion, racial aversion even though it is a comment that was made, a comment that had no other facts than to exchange with others, continues the lawyer for Sandra Muhoza.

“And even, the others said practically the same but they are not prosecuted”, regrets Prosper Niyoyankana.

Facts that tarnish the image of Burundi

For our colleague’s lawyer, the Burundian justice system should provisionally release his client.

“There are once again the facts which tarnish the image of Burundi even though they have no basis. The exchanges which took place between professionals and which lead a journalist once again to detention, this tarnishes the image of the Burundi, tarnishes this image gratuitously. It is for this reason that I would ask the authorities, both administrative and judicial, to frankly order the release or at the very least the provisional freedom of Mrs. Sandra because she has nothing to do in the prison. And especially in these two aspects,” he concluded.

According to the penal code in force in the small East African nation, the judges’ measure must take place within 48 hours at the latest.