The head of Etata invectivated Esdras Ndikumana, journalist of RFI and AFP.He accuses him, among other things, of exaggerating the gravity of the propagation of the pandemic of COVID-19 and of nourishing hostile feelings towards him.

It looks like a repetitive public lynching.And the Burundian president does not go with the back of the spoon.It seems that he did not tolerate the articles of the journalist devoted to the management of the Pandemic of COVID-19.On the occasion of his meeting with young entrepreneurs at the Intwari stadium, Tuesday August 31, Evariste Ndayishimiye publicly accused the journalist of RFI (Radio France International) and AFP (Agency France Presse) to pay in apologyof Burundi poverty.

“Unfortunately, there are journalists who only promote poverty in the country.There is one (Esdras Ndikumana of RFI, Editor's note) who always says that COVVI-19 rages in Burundi, that all hospitals in Burundi are full of COVID-19 patients and that the pandemic takes several human lives.Is he not a promoter of poverty?"Said the Burundian number one before ironizing, sarcastic:" But he said he was an international journalist.He is Burundian.How is it that we hate the country where we grew up?»»

According to the head of state, Esdras Ndikumana is the only journalist who continues to tarnish the image of Burundi.The founder of the newspaper Iwacu, Antoine Kaburahe would have "changed.»»

“We only had two journalists who destroy our country left.But one has been changed.He received our message.Tell him that he did well to pull himself together.I was told that Kaburahe said he won't do it anymore.Tell him that it is good.Tell him to also tell his friend to change his mind.The president is deadly, but the country will remain forever ”.

Bis Repetita

This is not the first time that President Ndayishimiye vilified the journalist Esdras Ndikumana.On August 19, the journalist was also the target of a diatriber of the executive boss during a closing evening of the week dedicated to the Burundian diaspora.Again, he described it as a bad omen that speculates and inflates the figures for COVID-19 cases in Burundi."He is the only Burundian journalist who dreams of seeing Burundi sinks into the abyss, to see the Burundians die.He really wants to see the COVID-19 besiege us.Go tell him this: continue to wish them misfortune, but God is alive ”.

As a reminder, Esdras Ndikumana has lived in exile since 2015. Then RFI and AFP correspondent in Burundi, he was arrested and then beaten on August 2 by SNR agents (National Intelligence Service).They accuse him of having visited the place of the armed attack which cost the life of General Adolphe Nshimirimana, former boss of Burundian intelligence.In January 2016, he received the Prize for the French -speaking diplomatic press, from the hands of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Laurent Fabius.

Solidarity Elan

Several media professionals say they are shocked by the words of the Burundian president and evoke their support on social networks."Full support for our colleague Esdras ndikumana @rutwesdras after the 2 priests of Pré Evariste ndayishimyie @Generalneva" can be read on the Twitter account of Sonia Rolley, RFI journalist.

Some on -site journalists say they are worried: "It is a subliminal message that sent us.Today it is our colleague Esdras who is targeted and fortunately he is far from the Burundian borders.Tomorrow, he can be a journalist who lives in Burundi.And there it will be more dangerous. ”

>>Réactions

RFI supports Esdras Ndikumana

In an internal statement on Thursday, Radio France Internationale protests against accusations and threats aimed at its former correspondent in Burundi.She says she learned with amazement the successive verbal attacks launched by the president of Burundi against Esdras Ndikumana.She describes these accusations as unfounded and absurd.The RFI supports its journalist recalling that since the start of the pandemic, the whole of its writing reports on the health situation in Burundi, as in all the countries of the world with professionalism and the greatest objectivity based onTestimonies overcome and verified.

Arnaud Froger condemns "serious, dangerous and virulent" remarks of the president

The head of the RSF Africa office says he is shocked and condemns the "serious, dangerous and virulent" remarks of President Ndayishimiye against a journalist whose credibility and professionalism is no longer to be called into question.

"Taking a journalist to his journalist for his revelations on the resurgence of the COVVI-19 epidemic in a context where the authorities do not communicate enough on the management of the health crisis is to undermine press freedom."

For Arnaud Froger, it is a sad reminder of the fragility of press freedom, expression and the right to information.This is a dangerous and very regrettable observation for a president who had presented guarantees in favor of press freedom to finally take part in a journalist who was tortured by the intelligence agents and was forced to the'exile.

Beyond the attack on Esdras Ndikumana, the President's words also sound as a warning against journalists who still work in the country in already difficult conditions.RSF urges the president to fight the epidemic rather than journalists.Bringing into press freedom during the health crisis is helping to weaken efforts to overcome the virus.

Lewis Mudge notes that it is dangerous to be a journalist in Burundi

According to its director for Central Africa, Human Rights Watch says he is concerned about the words of the Burundian president.He deplores the intimidation of journalists, considered to be human rights defenders, who communicate neutrally on the situation prevailing in the country."Press freedom is important in a country that has undergone serious human rights violations with the 2015 crisis. Intimidation on the part of the Head of State makes journalists' work even more difficult."

Lewis Mudge bites with bitterness that it is dangerous to be a journalist in Burundi.Rather, he asked the Burundian government to let human rights and journalists work by guaranteeing their security.

Lighting: three questions to Antoine Kaburahe

"A good journalist is not the one who caresses in the direction of the hair"

During his meeting with young people at the Intwari stadium, the head of state said that he "left only two journalists who destroy the country."Esdras Ndikumana from RFI and Antoine Kaburahe, the exile founder of the Iwacu press group.We interviewed him after this exit from President Ndayishimiye.

The Burundian president quoted you in his speech saying that you were among those who tarnished the image of Burundi.What was your reaction by learning it?

Amaoming and sadness.Amazing, because whether in my personal or professional history, it is verifiable, I have never participated in any business to tarnish the image of my country.Admittedly, I can be critical, say what does not work, but I am in my role as a journalist.It’s still in order to help authorities improve the situation.It saddens me a little, because I have the impression that the good journalist would be the one who caresses in the direction of the hair.This is not how I practice our job.

He said you "stopped attacking Burundi".What do you think?

I have never "attacked Burundi". Burundi is my country, I love it.You know, I entered journalism in 1992 and check in everything I said and wrote, I have always advocated the opening.With very committed colleagues, I took enormous risks by giving the floor to those who were muzzled, whom the power of the time called "tribalo genocidal terrorists".For me, they were citizens who were entitled to speech.I was convinced that it was necessary to listen to them, to dialogue, to put an end to war and to build peace.I was not understood.I had to flee, by the way.Yesterday as today, a journalist must take risks, have the courage to say sometimes harsh truths to hear.But that does not make him an enemy of the country.

The president asks you to "advise journalist Esdras Ndikumana", what do you think?

I have a lot of respect and affection for Esdras Ndikumana.He is an elder in the business, he has a great experience and he is an honest journalist.So do not shoot the messenger because the message is unpleasant.At the risk of repeating myself, I say that our role, as a journalist, is not to praise the authorities.We are not in “communication.Our role is to always ask us, to doubt, to investigate in the extent of our means.In a democracy, citizens must be well informed and our mission is fundamental.We are at the service of citizens, without being the enemies of the authorities or the country.