05-03-2018 ■ As the electoral campaign for the upcoming constitutional referendum has officially begun on May 2nd, Burundi catholic bishops find that the moment is inopportune to amend the constitution. They call on Burundians to safeguard unity and peace. In a statement released on May 2, Joachim Ntahondereye, Chairman of the (...)

05-01-2018 ■ While the world celebrates the No Hitting Day for Children on 30 April, Burundi Teachers’ Union –STEB appreciates the progress made since the physical punishment on children was abolished. “Some teachers used to exaggerate when punishing pupils until they could faint,” says Rémy Nsengiyumva, STEB chairman. He also says (...)

04-27-2018 ■ The Supreme Court released on April 24, a statement on the rapid punishment of crimes that will be committed during the referendum campaign and polling day. Some politicians describe the justice decision as intimidation. The staff of the courts and prosecutor’s offices all over the country must be available (...)

04-26-2018 ■ In a workshop on memory management towards young people that was organized by “Initiative et Changement”, a local NGO in partnership with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission-CVR this April 25, the youth have said they are most often victims of the narratives they hear from their families. Alain Bertrand (...)

04-26-2018 ■ Forty million euro a year is the aid the Netherlands gives to Burundi to foster its development, said Harry Verweij, Netherlands ambassador to Burundi, on 25 April in a press conference he held as part of the celebration of the King’s Day in the Netherlands That day will be (...)

04-25-2018 ■ 21 new Burundian ministers have taken an oath this April 24, 2018. The presidential decree appointing them was issued on 18 April 2018 and they were all sworn in at Kigobe Congress Hall in the capital Bujumbura before the President of the Republic and Parliament. Among the appointed ministers, (...)

04-24-2018 ■ Burundi president Pierre Nkurunziza fixes the beginning of the electoral campaign to sensitize people to vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No” in the upcoming constitutional referendum on May 1st. An MP elected from the opposition political coalition worries that administrative authorities may not treat all political parties equally. The sensitization campaign (...)

04-20-2018 ■ On April 18, the National Assembly adopted a bill on the revision of the code of criminal procedure. The latter causes disputes among politicians. “This bill is a flagrant violation of individual rights and freedom,” says Phénias Nigaba, FRODEBU party spokesman. He says his party is worried about the (...)

04-18-2018 ■ During a visit that he conducted to IWACU Press Group on 17 April, Mr. Thomas Strieder, Ambassador of Germany to Burundi has said “Iwacu represents media freedom in the country.” Ambassador Strieder has said he appreciates the work done by Iwacu despite a number of challenges.”It takes courage to (...)

04-17-2018 ■ While 16April is the international day for the abolition of child slavery, child rights activist says the latter affects most poor families and orphans who are left to struggle on their own. Ferdinand Simbaruhije, Secretary General of Burundi National Federation of Child Rights Organizations (FENABEB), says there are two (...)