01-09-2017 ■ Who and why? Grey areas remain over the assassination of Emmanuel Niyonkuru, Minister of Environment, on New Year’s Eve. Iwacu goes back to his last hours and provides an update on the investigation. Written by Fabrice Manirakiza, Agnès Ndirubusa and Hervé Mugisha. Translated by Pierre Emmanuel Ngendakumana While 2017 (...)

01-07-2017 ■ The police seized a large quantity of counterfeit, illegal or smuggled products in Burundi, a new report has revealed. The December seizure was the result of cooperation between police forces in East Africa designed to tackle transnational crime. In a press release published Friday 6 January, the Director General (...)

01-02-2017 ■ A woman, two guards and the owner of “Chez André” restaurant have been arrested for investigation following the assassination of the Minister of Water and Environment. Emmanuel Niyonkuru, 54, was killed on 1 January by a criminal with a gun at about 00: 45 local time while going back (...)

01-02-2017 ■ All kinds of rumors circulate about the fighting that took place on 21 December in Uvira. Burundian soldiers were killed. On the Burundi side, military communication completely denies the information. FNL fighters led by Nzabampema settled in the area claim the fight and jubilate. Who fought and why? Two (...)

12-31-2016 ■ The government has denied media reports of confrontations between soldiers of Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), one of Burundi’s neighbours, in the west of Burundi. The two countries maintain good relations, said Gaspard Baratuza, spokesman for Burundi’s National Defense ministry, on 29 December. According to RFI, (...)

12-29-2016 ■ Tharcisse Gahungu, Chairman of the Burundian trade union confederation (COSYBU), was arrested yesterday in Ijenda area of Mugongo-Manga commune in Bujumbura province. A police source says he would have been arrested by agents of the National Intelligence Service. Nsavyimana Célestin, Deputy Chairman of COSYBU, says Gahungu and other trade (...)

12-28-2016 ■ Two children died in Kinanira district of Kinindo zone in the south of the capital Bujumbura following the uncovered outdoor electrical installations. The organization advocating children’s rights [SOGEPAE] asks the Minister of Energy and Mines to ensure immediate adequate installations. “We are very much concerned about the phenomenon of (...)

12-28-2016 ■ Burundi National Defense Force Spokesman, Gaspard Baratuza, confirms the AU appeal to Burundi government to send soldiers who will replace the 40th, 41st and 42nd battalions deployed in Somalia. He believes the Burundian military, who serve the African Union Mission in Somalia-AMISOM, are going to be paid their arrears. (...)

12-26-2016 ■ Public security officials say they have taken necessary measures to make sure residents of capital Bujumbura spend Christmas and New Year parties in security. “Security prevails. All measures have been taken to ensure people celebrate Christmas and New Year festivities in peace”, said Alain Guillaume Bunyoni, Minister of Public (...)

12-22-2016 ■ While presenting the annual report of activities carried out by the Ministry of Public Security on 21 December, Alain Guillaume Bunyoni, Minister of Public Security said the year 2016 was characterized by heightened security throughout the country. He, however, evoked some cases of assassinations, enforced disappearances and armed attacks (...)