Burundi-Press : Akeza.Net technical director detained by Burundian intelligence

Ahmadi Radjabu has been detained in a Burundian intelligence cell in the commercial city Bujumbura since the evening of May 2. He was arrested while taking images of a fire in the Ruvumera market (same town). His medium has not yet been notified of the crimes of which our colleague is suspected.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The journalist was covering the fire in the most famous market in Burundi located in the Buyenzi zone (center of Bujumbura) which was quickly extinguished. According to our information, he was directly transferred to the cells of the SNR (National Intelligence Service) at its headquarters located in the commercial capital, after his arrest.

A manager of the medium of which Ahmadi Radjabu is an employee who spoke to SOS Médias Burundi on condition of anonymity confirmed that he is “over there (intelligence dungeons)”, when our editorial team contacted him.

According to the same source, Akeza.Net has not yet been notified of the crimes of which our colleague is suspected. But other sources told SOS Médias Burundi that he is reportedly detained for using a drone.

“At the time of his arrest, he was using a drone. He was with another colleague of his medium who had a camera. This one was not arrested. It was the two journalists who arrived on the scene the first. No explanation was given,” said a colleague.

According to our information, Akeza.Net managers brought the matter before the CNC (National Communication Council) and the National Human Rights Commission (CNIDH). We had not yet had officials from the regulatory body and the controversial Human Rights Commission tell us what they know about this matter until the time of publication of this article.

“In principle, he should appear today (May 14), I don’t know why they changed that,” the official who spoke on condition of anonymity told SOS Médias Burundi.

Press card

According to sources close to the case, Ahmadi Radjabu did not have a press card with him when he was arrested.

“In principle, he still has his card,” replied a representative of his employer who requested anonymity.

Use and operation of drones

In the small East African nation, persons and organizations that own drones must pay a $5 registration fee and a $150 annual operating fee. These fees are paid to the civil aviation services.

Users who prefer not to give an annual payment pay $50 per shoot while annual subscribers have to spend half per shoot.

Persons and organizations who do not register their drone with civil aviation services are subject to sanctions.

Each time a holder of a registered drone organizes or covers an event, they must request prior authorization which mentions the date and place where it takes place. Normally Akeza.Net uses drones in many events, even in ceremonies where the head of state participates.

Explanations from field agents

On the night of May 2, 2024, at least six journalists went to Buyenzi. But they arrived after Ahmadi Radjabu was apprehended. The police blocked them.

“We did not have access to the market. Police officers told us that they arrested a Congolese who had ventured to film with a drone,” confides a journalist who was part of the team.

What are the police hiding?

Ahmadi Radjabu does not receive visits from his family or his employer, according to our sources.

The fire it covered was caused by explosive devices placed in electrical cabins, police sources and traders based in Ruvumera told SOS Médias Burundi. Last Saturday, the spokesperson for the ministry in charge of security showed the local press six men suspected of being linked to “terrorist grenade attacks including explosions on April 24 in the north of Bujumbura following the grenades placed in electric cabins, financed and sponsored by Rwanda”.

In a white T-shirt and black cap, Ahmadi Radjabu films in a ceremony attended by the head of state, DR

However, Pierre Nkurikiye did not cite the case of the explosions which caused the fire at the Ruvumera market nor spoke of the arrest of our colleague.

“This shows to what extent the profession of journalism is threatened in Burundi. For a journalist to be arrested like a criminal when he was only exercising his profession is absurd,” said a Burundian journalist.

“But what hurts more is that a journalist can spend almost two weeks in detention without even his medium talking about it. We have reached the most critical level of self-censorship. Resignation has become the word of order in Burundi that in certain situations, these are good people who are considered as outlaws,” he analyzes.

However, Pierre Nkurikiye did not cite the case of the explosions which caused the fire at the Ruvumera market nor spoke of the arrest of our colleague.

“This shows to what extent the profession of journalism is threatened in Burundi. For a journalist to be arrested like a criminal when he was only exercising his profession is absurd,” said a Burundian journalist.

“But what hurts more is that a journalist can spend almost two weeks in detention without even his medium talking about it. We have reached the most critical level of self-censorship. Resignation has become the word order in Burundi that in certain situations, it is healthy people who end up being considered outlaws”, he analyzes.

He estimates that “Burundi has gone back at least 50 years in terms of the right to freedom of expression with the 2015 crisis*”.

Akeza.Net intends to contact other organs if our colleague is not released, SOS Médias Burundi learned from sources close to the matter.

2015 Crisis : The crisis triggered by another controversial term of the late President Pierre Nkurunziza

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Ahmadi Radjabu, technical director of the online Akeza.Net newspaper, held by the Burundian intelligence