Willy Kwizera, a journalist with the local radio station Bonesha FM, was violently assaulted and unlawfully detained by student representatives at the University of Burundi’s Mutanga campus on Monday while reporting on student living conditions. The incident has triggered public outrage and intensified concerns about the worsening state of press freedom in the country.
According to a statement from Bonesha FM, the journalist was “harassed, beaten, and locked up in the student representation office” by members of the student union. The station said Kwizera had been carrying out his journalistic duties when the incident occurred.
Witnesses and local media confirm that Kwizera had gone to the campus to gather information about the reportedly harsh conditions faced by students. When he asked a representative of students from the economics department where he could seek permission to conduct interviews on campus, he was allegedly ambushed by other fellow representatives.
“They stopped me,” Kwizera told Iwacu newspaper. “Before taking me to the student representative’s office. They confiscated my equipment, ID, bank and press cards, and even the small amount of money I had. These people, who I suspect are linked to the ruling party’s youth wing, the Imbonerakure, beat me brutally.”
He added that while in custody, the student leaders accused him of attempting to “tarnish the country’s image” and “disrupt the elections,” and of allegedly being a vocal opposition figure sharing information with Burundian activists in exile. Among those mentioned was Pacifique Nininahazwe, chairman of FOCODE, a watchdog group documenting human rights abuses in Burundi.
Kwizera recounted the harrowing experience, saying that one of the assailants pinned him to the ground with a knee on his neck, drawing a chilling comparison to the murder of George Floyd in the United States. “They beat me relentlessly, especially around the ribs and hips. They told me if I said a word about what happened, they’d hunt me down and kill me,” he said. He was later forced to sign documents pledging to remain silent.
After hours of abuse, he was released and returned to his newsroom, limping and in pain.
Media, Civil Society, and Human Rights Groups Condemn Assault on Bonesha FM Journalist
Raymond Nzimana, Director of Bonesha FM, has condemned the attack on journalist Willy Kwizera, calling it a shameful act that has no place in a country governed by law. He emphasized that no individual or group has the right to detain or punish a journalist, regardless of disagreement with their reporting. “If anything happens to Willy Kwizera, we will hold his attackers fully accountable,” Nzimana warned.
He called on the University of Burundi’s rectorate to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and ensure those responsible face legal consequences.
This attack is not the first time Kwizera has faced intimidation. Just last week, he and fellow journalist Ahmad Masudi Mugiraneza of Radio Nderagakura were arrested while covering a peaceful protest in Bujumbura organized by members of Ineza Microfinance, a financial institution that had recently defaulted on payments.
Despite presenting valid press credentials from the National Media Council (CNC), the journalists were accused of inciting insurrection and attempting to disrupt elections. Their equipment was confiscated, and they were detained for several hours before being released following intervention by CNC and Mugiraneza’s newsroom.
Reacting to the incident, one journalist who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “Covering a protest does not mean we are part of it. It seems the police either don’t understand or deliberately ignore the role of the press.”
The attacks on Kwizera come just days ahead of World Press Freedom Day, celebrated globally on May 3. Journalists and civil society groups have long warned of diminishing press freedom in Burundi, where media workers continue to face harassment, detention, and violence in the line of duty.
Nzimana stressed the importance of accountability, particularly with World Press Freedom Day approaching: “It is disgraceful that such acts are taking place while the world is preparing to honor press freedom.”
Vianney Ndayisaba, national coordinator of ALUCHOTO, a local human rights organization, condemned the violence, calling it an “inhumane act.” He urged the government to protect the journalist, annul any documents he was coerced into signing, and bring the perpetrators to justice through a fair trial.
Espérance Ndayizeye, chairperson of CNC, stated that the regulatory body had not been officially notified about the attack. “We were not aware of any problems involving a journalist from Bonesha FM,” she said, explaining that the information had come through social media posts. However, Nzimana of Bonesha FM refuted this claim, stating that the incident had been communicated to the deputy chairperson of CNC.
Leave a comment