04-16-2020 ■ Sixte Vigny Nimuraba, Chairman of the National Independent Electoral Commission-CNIDH, says the commission visited 79 prisons in 2019. He also says the members of the Commission listened to 2413 detainees including 2055 men, 237 women, 116 young boys and 5 girls from different prisons. “154 detainees were released thanks (...)

04-15-2020 ■ Francis Rohero, an Independent candidate for the presidential election set on May 20 says COVID-19 shouldn’t be taken lightly as it is fatal and has the potential to cause repercussions on the already faltering economy. “We are aware that total containment is something that Burundi cannot afford but there (...)

04-15-2020 ■ “All motorcyclists working as taxi drivers must now carry a can filled with water and soap to allow customers to wash their hands before getting on the motorcycle,” ordered Arthémon Ndayegamiye, legal representative of the Association of Motorcycle Taxi Drivers of Burundi at a press conference held on 14 (...)

04-14-2020 ■ Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Burundi, the Auspices Center “Saint Elisabeth” has imposed measures to protect old people hosted by the center. Nun Colette Murimbane, Managing Director of the center, says there are no visits or internships within the center. “We fear that they should be affected as (...)

04-14-2020 ■ Residents of Gihungu neighborhood of Gihosha area in the north of the economic capital Bujumbura say they have not got drinking water since the past few weeks. They fear catching Coronavirus. “We haven’t had access to clean water for more than a month. One of the two taps installed (...)

04-13-2020 ■ There have been reports of several arrests and seriously injured members of the opposition party CNL after scuffles with the youth of the ruling party Imbonerakure. The latter are accused of having carried out attacks on the homes of activists of the National Congress for Liberty (CNL) on Saturday, (...)

04-11-2020 ■ “Concerned by the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential impact on the Burundian population as the first three official cases of infection were confirmed last week, the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi openly invited the Government to fight the pandemic transparently and in compliance with international standards,” (...)

04-10-2020 ■ Jean-Marie Vianney Ngendakumana, Radio Isanganiro journalist and his driver Saïd Rukundaneza have been mistreated by young people from Kanyosha commune in Bujumbura province this April 9. They were investigating on an attack perpetrated in Kiyenzi locality in Kanyosha commune. Local residents told Radio Isanganiro journalists that it is deplorable (...)

04-10-2020 ■ ICG, International Crisis Group, has just published a long report entitled “A First Step Toward Reform: Ending Burundi’s Forced Contribution System”. Iwacu spoke to Nelleke van de Walle, ICG’s Central Africa Officer. International Crisis Group has just published a report on the system of “forced contributions”in Burundi. What are (...)

04-10-2020 ■ The Minister of Health announced on 8 April that 34 people, who had been in contact with three people who recently tested positive for COVID-19, have tested negative for the virus. “Twenty one among the 34 tested people had already undergone the first test while the remaining 13 were (...)