Body found on field suspected to be of missing Burundian journalist

An investigation has been launched after a body suspected to be that of missing Burundian journalist Jean Bigirimana was found.

Bigirimana, a reporter with the independent weekly newspaper Iwacu, mysteriously went missing on July 22, after, leaving his home following a phone call from a source in the country’s national intelligence service. Although unconfirmed, his wife reportedly said he was arrested by the intelligence officers.

Speaking to Africanews, one of Iwacu’s journalists, Leandre Sikiyavuga, said after three consecutive days of a self – initiated investigation over the weekend, Iwacu journalists found a body in the area where they say their colleague might have been killed or left to die.

“We did our own investigations because at the police or the National Intelligence Service were told they did not know where our journalist was. But the testimony of the shepherds who were goshawks, we can not conclude that it is him, but still, we doubt the identity of the body. So far police say knew nothing about the National Intelligence Service said the same thing,” he said

Human Rights Watch has documented a pattern of abductions, arrests, torture, and killings of civil society activists, journalists, and others by government forces, armed opposition groups, and unknown assailants since April 2015, when protests broke out in response to President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to seek a third term.

Though every thing is at speculatory level at this stage, Human Rights Watch has documented a pattern of abductions, arrests, torture, and killings of civil society activists, journalists, and others by government forces, armed opposition and unknown assailants since April 2015, when protests broke out in response to President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to seek a third term.