A Burundian journalist Sandra Muhoza who works for a local media house in Burundi was arrested since last Saturday April, 13th, 2024 according to a joint statement issued by various organizations of media professionals that included the Burundi Press House and the Association of female journalists in Burundi.
“We organizations of media professionals gathered within the Maison de la Presse of Burundi have learned with regret of the deprivation of liberty of journalist Sandra Muhoza…According to sources close to her family, she is in the hands of the intelligence services. We therefore ask that the reason for his deprivation of liberty be known and that investigations be carried out in strict compliance with the law. As the celebration of World Press Freedom Day approaches, it provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of press freedom and to remind governments of their obligations to respect and ensure respect for the right to freedom of press,” part of the joint statement reads.
Sandra Muhoza is a journalist for an online media La Nova, according to netizens and information that surfaced on various online platforms, Ms. Muhoza purportedly exchanged comments in a WhatsApp group with her colleagues that was regarded as sensitive to the community and inaccurate.
“We hope that this journalist will be released to continue practicing her profession. We call on Burundian journalists to show solidarity and to highlight their brotherhood and assert their professionalism,” a statement reads.
As of this Thursday 18 April 2024, Burundian authorities were yet to comment on the case of the La Nova journalist.