Burundi : a senior RTNB cameraman detained by SNR after a fire at the State broadcaster

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, November 10, 2026 — Bonaventure Niyongabo, a veteran cameraman for the National Radio and Television of Burundi (RTNB), known by the nickname “Gihuha,” has been detained since November 6 at the National Intelligence Service (SNR) headquarters in Bujumbura, the country’s commercial capital. He was arrested in a bar on Avenue du Large in the Mukaza district before being taken to the SNR headquarters, opposite Regina Mundi Cathedral, according to information gathered by SOS Médias Burundi.

The detention centers of this intelligence service are regularly cited in testimonies and reports from human rights organizations detailing arbitrary detentions, ill-treatment, and acts of torture. The detention of Bonaventure Niyongabo in these premises is causing concern among his family and colleagues.

Aged 60, Bonaventure Niyongabo was reportedly questioned about a fire that occurred a few days earlier at the State broadcaster. Following the incident, RTNB officials cited a short circuit and assured the public that the fire had been extinguished.

In connection with the same case, three other RTNB staff members were also questioned : Yollande Niyubahwe, who works in television programming, and Claudette Butoyi and Prince Ntororwe, both camerapeople. All three were released after their hearings, while Bonaventure Niyongabo remains detained at the SNR headquarters.

His family is demanding his immediate release. Colleagues of the cameraman, who spoke to SOS Médias Burundi, maintain that he had no connection to the fire. They even indicate that he participated, alongside the military, in operations to extinguish the fire. They question the reasons for his continued detention and demand his release so that he can resume his professional activities, as he is approaching retirement age.

Furthermore, information gathered by SOS Médias Burundi reports that Bonaventure Niyongabo has allegedly criticized discriminatory practices targeting certain RTNB staff members who are not members of the ruling party. According to these reports, some employees are showing up at work without authorization to perform their duties, due to their perceived opposition to the current government.

An RTNB staff member, who spoke to SOS Médias Burundi on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, describes a difficult work environment for some employees. “For a certain category of staff, we work in a hostile environment,” he says.

This testimony reinforces the concerns of some employees who denounce discrimination and a climate of fear within the public broadcaster. They demand fair treatment for all workers, regardless of their opinions or political affiliation, so that everyone can freely practice their profession and RTNB can fully fulfill its public service mission : informing the entire population.

This case comes amid criticism of the evolving role of RTNB and its relationship with the government.

The detention of Bonaventure Niyongabo also brings to mind the murder of Christophe Nkezabahizi, another RTNB cameraman, who was assassinated on October 13, 2015, at his home in the Ngagara neighborhood, north of Bujumbura. His wife, their two children, and another family member were also killed in the attack.

At the time of publication, no official statement had been released regarding the precise reasons for Bonaventure Niyongabo’s detention. The authorities had also not commented on any potential legal proceedings in this case.

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Bonaventure Niyongabo, senior cameraman for RTNB, has been detained by the SNR since November 6, 2026 (DR/SOS Médias Burundi)