Burundian court on Wednesday sentenced journalist Sandra Muhoza to four years in prison after finding her guilty of treason-related charges, a verdict that has sparked strong condemnation from press freedom organizations.
The High Court of Ngozi in northern Burundi handed down the sentence along with a fine of 200,000 Burundian francs, citing charges of spreading rumors and inciting ethnic hatred, according to local media reports.
The ruling came despite prosecutors initially seeking a much harsher penalty. Prior to the verdict, the public prosecutor had requested a 12-year prison sentence and a fine of one million Burundian francs.
Muhoza’s defense team rejected the ruling, arguing that the alleged acts do not constitute a crime under Burundi’s Penal Code. Her lawyer, Rémy Nsabimana, said the defense was surprised by the verdict, describing it as baseless and confirming plans to appeal the decision, according to Radio Télévision Isanganiro.
Muhoza, a journalist with the online outlet La Nova Burundi, has been behind bars since April 2024. In December of that year, the High Court of Mukaza in Bujumbura sentenced her to 21 months in prison on charges of “undermining the integrity of the national territory” and “racial aversion.”
The charges stem from a message she allegedly shared in a private WhatsApp group of journalists discussing claims that machetes were being distributed to youth members of the ruling CNDD-FDD party.
In May 2025, a court of appeal ruled that her trial in Bujumbura had been conducted by a court lacking jurisdiction, effectively invalidating the conviction. Authorities later transferred Muhoza to Ngozi, saying the alleged offense had been committed there. Her trial before the High Court of Ngozi concluded at the end of September 2025.
Press freedom groups have sharply criticized the latest verdict. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) described the sentence as “devastating,” warning that it deepens injustice and sends a chilling message to the media.
“The sentencing of Sandra Muhoza to four years in prison is very devastating. It compounds a deep injustice against Muhoza and extends the suffering of her family, including young children, who have endured her absence for nearly two years,” said Muthoki Mumo, CPJ’s Africa Program Coordinator, in a written statement to Breaking Burundi.
Mumo added that CPJ has documented numerous fair trial and due process concerns, which she said expose the political nature of the proceedings and aim to intimidate the broader media community.
“We will persist in calling for Sandra Muhoza’s unconditional freedom,” she said, urging African journalists, human rights defenders, and Burundi’s diplomatic partners to continue advocating for her release.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also denounced the ruling, calling it a clear attempt to criminalize journalism. In a statement, RSF said Muhoza is currently the only female journalist arbitrarily detained in sub-Saharan Africa.
“This very harsh sentence imposed on a journalist who did nothing more than share a message in a WhatsApp group for news professionals shows the real intention of the judicial authorities: to continue treating journalism as a crime,” said Sadibou Marong, RSF’s Director for sub-Saharan Africa. He called for Muhoza’s immediate release.
The verdict follows mounting international pressure. In December 2025, more than 127 African women journalists issued a joint statement calling for Muhoza’s unconditional release, warning that her imprisonment deprives the public of “an important voice.”
Burundi is ranked 125th out of 180 countries in the latest World Press Freedom Index, dropping 17 places from 2024 amid concerns over a worsening environment for journalists, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
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