Iwacu Presses for Justice, Nine Years After Jean Bigirimana Went Missing

Nine years after journalist Jean Bigirimana disappeared, Iwacu Press Group—Burundi’s leading independent weekly newspaper and his employer at the time—has renewed calls for a thorough investigation into his disappearance. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Iwacu’s director, Léandre Sikuyavuga, lamented the lack of progress in the case and vowed to continue seeking justice.

“It has now been nine years since journalist Jean Bigirimana disappeared without a trace,” Sikuyavuga told reporters. “Since then, we have continuously sought answers from those responsible, from anyone who could shed light on the matter — but until now, no clarity has been provided.”

Bigirimana, a former journalist for the pro-government radio station Rema FM, went missing on July 22, 2016, shortly after joining Iwacu. That day, he informed colleagues he was heading to Bugarama, a locality in Muramvya—now part of Gitega Province—about 30 kilometers from Bujumbura. Hours later, an unidentified person called Iwacu’s newsroom to report that Bigirimana had been abducted

Bigirimana was 37 at the time of his disappearance, which occurred just over a year after Burundi was thrown into turmoil following then-President Pierre Nkurunziza’s controversial bid for a third term. The resulting political crisis forced thousands of Burundians — including journalists — into exile and dealt a severe blow to press freedom in the country.

Despite repeated appeals, both locally and internationally, Iwacu says justice has not been served.

“We brought this case before the justice system. We do not know who took him, we do not know where he went, and to this day, we are still waiting to hear what the justice system will tell us,” Sikuyavuga said. “We keep asking, and we will continue to ask until we know the truth.”

Amid continued repression and silence, Sikuyavuga called on fellow journalists not to give up. “I call upon all journalists not to give up or be afraid, because their profession is an honorable one — it enables citizens to understand how the country is being governed, and it also allows leaders to understand how their citizens are living,” he said, urging the media to uphold journalistic ethics in their work.