Burundian journalist arrested, whereabouts unknown

A journalist working for Iwacu Media Group based in Burundi, Jean Bigirimana, was arrested on Friday last week in Muramvya province and his whereabouts are still unknown, his family confirmed Tuesday.

"We request security organs to help us find him. We need to know where he is now so that we can give him food. We are also worried about his security," said Godeberthe Hakizimana, wife of the journalist.

According to Hakizimana, her husband "did not have any problem" with his neighbors.

She said she is worried about how she will raise her two children in case her husband does not come back.

The interim manager of Iwacu Media Group also said that Bigirimana's whereabouts are unknown.

"The whereabouts of journalist Jean Bigirimana are not known until now. He was arrested on Friday last week at Bugarama in Muramvya by unknown people suspected to be agents of the National Intelligence Service (SNR)," said Leandre Sikuyavuga, interim manager of Iwacu Media Group.

Journalist Bigirimana is said to be a relative of Leonidas Hatungimana, former spokesman of Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza, who fled after he expressed his opposition to Nkurunziza's third term bid in April last year. Endit