08-22-2016 ■ Four Burundian army officers have deserted after the completion of their studies in Ethiopia. Reportedly, they feared for their security. But Col. Gaspard Baratuza says the soldiers’ fear was caused by false information on social media. Those officers are said to have asked for a political asylum because they (...)

08-19-2016 ■ The two bodies recovered last week from the Mubarazi River were buried this Tuesday, August 16, 2016 in Muramvya cemetery. According to the wife of our colleague Jean Bigirimana, the latter is not among them. “After identification, we buried them, because the bodies were in an advanced state of (...)

08-19-2016 ■ Following the UNSC adoption of the resolution 2303 authorizing the deployment of 228 police officers in Burundi to monitor the human rights situation, the Burundi National Assembly issued a statement on 18 August. For it, this resolution is a threat to Burundi stability. The lower chamber of the parliament (...)

08-18-2016 ■ Martin Nivyabandi, the Minister in charge of Human Rights, recognizes that such practice is common in Burundi. This was reported during a press briefing held in Bujumbura the capital on 17 August. “It has been reported that the National Intelligence Services detains and tortures people. But we noticed that (...)

08-18-2016 ■ About 99 cases of cholera have been identified in Kabezi health district (24 km from Bujumbura capital city) between 27 July and 17 August. According to Arcade Hatungimana, the provincial doctor in Bujumbura Province, 80 patients recovered but one of the patients died. Fifty six patients are from Kabezi (...)

08-17-2016 ■ Students of three departments of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Burundi have resumed strike. They protest against the university’s decision to suspend some students for not having respected the ultimatum to resume studies issued by the rector. For them, that measure was both (...)

08-17-2016 ■ The two bodies fished out from the Mubarazi when searching for Jean Bigirimana, the Iwacu journalist who has disappeared since 22 July were buried in the afternoon of Tuesday,16 August in Muramvya province. Human Rights defenders whom Iwacu contacted confirmed the information. According to the same sources, there had (...)

08-16-2016 ■ Out of 11 contenders who participated in Miss Burundi 2016 contest on 14 August, Ange Bernice Ingabire, 21, won the competition after three years it was suspended. While others put forth projects to promote women and youth, Ange focused on a project to support kids born with deformities. The (...)

08-16-2016 ■ On 12 August, three professional associations of Burundian Media have written a letter to President Pierre Nkurunziza to ask him to free the journalist Jean Bigirimana working for Iwacu newspaper abducted since 12 July by the state services as several sources stated. They appeal to Burundi president to urge (...)

08-15-2016 ■ Thursday August 11, civil protection rescuers extracted two dead bodies found near Bihongo waterfall in Nyabisiga rural area. The area is situated in Bugarama zone where Jean Bigirimana disappeared. At 12, first aid workers of the civil protection police unit arrived at “Concasseur”, the meeting place where they were (...)