Burundi : the National Assembly spokesperson arrested then released after hacking accusations

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, February 21, 2026 – Aimé Emmanuel Nibigira, senior communications advisor and spokesperson for the National Assembly of Burundi, was arrested on Friday, February 13, 2026, before being released on Wednesday, February 18, after several days of detention at the National Intelligence Service (SNR) in Bujumbura, the commercial capital of the small east African nation.

According to multiple sources, he was accused of hacking the National Assembly’s account X (formerly Twitter). He was reportedly confronted with the accusations in front of the Speaker of the Assembly and the Secretary General. “He was called back to duty while on medical leave,” a family member confided.

According to these sources, Aimé Emmanuel Nibigira was taken to the SNR’s cells shortly after these accusations. He remained there until his release Wednesday evening, without any official statement detailing the findings of a possible investigation.

Contested accusations

The senior advisor’s family firmly rejects the accusations against him. “In reality, someone had access to his computer in the office while he was on medical leave,” explains a member of his entourage.

National Assembly employees are also questioning the speed of the decisions made against him. “They didn’t even wait for the results of the investigations,” they complain.

A context of internal tensions

Several internal sources mention a climate of tension within the National Assembly. Upon his return from medical leave, Aimé Emmanuel Nibigira reportedly advocated for broader media coverage of the Internet Governance Forum, held in Bujumbura from February 16 to 21, 2026.

“He argued for diverse coverage of the event, while National Assembly officials wanted to prioritize the Burundi National Radio and Television. He was accused of rebelling against the institutions,” an internal source stated.

Since the beginning of the current legislative session, access for local media to plenary sessions has reportedly been restricted.

Replacement and restrictions

Following his dismissal, Aimé Emmanuel Nibigira was immediately replaced by his deputy, Aimée Nshimirimana. According to internal sources, the National Assembly’s Twitter account (formerly known as X) was also restricted in the wake of these events.

Some sources suggest that “the maneuvers were orchestrated by the Secretary General of the National Assembly,” though no official confirmation has been provided to support these claims.

The spokesperson’s release thus comes amid persistent speculation surrounding the true circumstances of his arrest and his swift replacement within the parliamentary institution.