Nairobi – A Burundian journalist detained since April 2024 and sentenced to four years in prison in January was released on parole Wednesday, according to one of her lawyers.
Muhoza appeared in court visibly weakened and using a crutch. A relative had indicated that she was suffering from a herniated disc.
The Ngozi prosecutor’s office authorised Muhoza’s provisional release in a written order dated February 27, seen by AFP.
The release came into effect Wednesday afternoon, her relatives, a judicial source and one of her lawyers told AFP.
According to the judicial source, Muhoza then returned home.
The journalist was convicted for sharing information in a private WhatsApp group about alleged arms distribution by the government, according to media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
RSF called the case proof that the authorities “continue to treat journalism as a crime”, noting Muhoza was the only woman journalist arbitrarily detained in sub-Saharan Africa.
Muhoza was previously sentenced to one year and nine months by a Bujumbura court in late 2024, but that ruling was overturned on appeal in May last year, with the case sent to Ngozi.
Burundi ranks 125th out of 180 countries for press freedom by RSF.
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Source: AFP
