Burundi: International Human rights groups, journalists’ associations call for immediate release of Floriane Irangabiye

Global rights groups and reporters associations have renewed Monday September 4 their call demanding the immediate release of Floriane Irangabiye, an online and exiled Burundi journalist and critic of the government, “Daily Nation” reports.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch in addition to several other like-mind organizations, in a joint statement, denounced Floriane Irangabiye’s arrest. She has been convicted and condemned to 10 years in prison for undermining the integrity of the national territory.

The organizations stressed on the deteriorating health of Floriane Irangabiye who has been in detention since January last year. She according to the organizations experienced respiratory distress in July. She has been suffering from asthma since her childhood, they added.

Floriane, who had been living in exile in neighboring Rwanda ran an online radio, Radio Igicarino. She used to interview well-known critics of the Burundian government.

She was arrested and detained by the National intelligence Service answering to the President early last year during a visit to family in Burundi. She reportedly got into trouble after hosting Bob Rugurika, Director of Radio Publique Africaine (RPA), and Janvier Bigiramana, a lawyer and national coordinator of Tournons La Page (TLP-Burundi).

Rugurika reportedly slammed the government and urged Burundian to stand up against the authorities.

Floriane Irangabiye in January this year was convicted for undermining the integrity of the national territory under Article 611 of Burundi’s Criminal Code. The prosecution also accused her of having no press card while claiming to be a journalist. The central African country since December has required a press card for every journalist.

She appealed the condemnation but the Court of appeal in May 2023 rejected the move and upheld the verdict.