Burundi: Journalists in Danger – A Three‑Part Testimony Series
Filmed discreetly inside Burundi during one of the darkest periods for the country’s independent press, this three‑part series documents how journalists were threatened, silenced, attacked or forced into hiding as the government tightened its grip on information. Interviewees include named reporters willing to speak publicly as well as others who appear anonymously for their own safety. These testimonies sit within a broader investigation into hit‑lists, disappearances and the systematic dismantling of Burundi’s media landscape — a rare record of voices captured inside the country as the crackdown unfolded.
Part One – The Reporter Who Stayed
This episode centres on an anonymous news reporter from one of Burundi’s independent press groups, who describes the escalating climate of fear as colleagues were detained, interrogated or driven into exile. Their testimony reflects a newsroom under siege: phones tapped, sources too afraid to speak, and the simple act of reporting becoming a daily calculation of risk. The account underscores how the government’s pressure campaigns — including alleged hit‑lists and targeted harassment — were designed to break the resolve of those who continued to work inside the country.
Part Two – Thomas Nzeyimana Speaks Out
In this chapter, Thomas Nzeyimana of Renaissance TV appears on camera to recount the threats he faced as violence against journalists intensified. He describes intimidation by state agents, the disappearance of colleagues, and the collapse of media pluralism as once‑vibrant outlets were shut down or censored. His interview illustrates the impossible choice many Burundian journalists confronted: accept silence, flee into exile, or risk their lives to continue reporting.
Part Three – Independent Journalists in Hiding
The final episode features reporters from another independent publication, some of whom appear anonymously to protect their identities. They describe working from safe houses, moving constantly to avoid detection, and watching their professional community unravel after the destruction of outlets like RPA and the disappearance of fellow journalist Jean Bigirimana. Their testimonies highlight a press corps fighting to survive - traumatised, fragmented, but still determined to document abuses that the government sought to erase.