RSF - Reporters sans frontières
RSF - Reporters sans frontières
04/13/2026 | Press release | Archived content
Burundi: Sandra Muhoza free at last!
On 13 April, the Ngozi Court of Appeal in northern Burundi delivered its verdict in the trial of journalist Sandra Muhoza, sentencing her to six months' imprisonment for "racial aversion" - a sentence she had already served - allowing her to fully regain her freedom. Although the journalist should never have spent a single day behind bars or been convicted for simply doing her job, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is relieved that her legal ordeal is finally coming to an end, exactly two years after her arrest.
Today is a day of joy for Sandra Muhoza, the only woman journalist detained in sub-Saharan Africa until now. After being granted provisional release on 4 March after 685 days behind bars, the Ngozi court's most recent ruling effectively grants the journalist from the online media outlet La Nova Burundi full release. In addition, Sandra Muhoza was found not guilty of "undermining the integrity of the national territory".
Unless it is appealed in cassation, this decision should finally bring an end to the baseless legal proceedings.
"The decision delivered on 13 April by the Ngozi Court of Appeal must put an end to Sandra Muhoza's legal ordeal, which is based on an empty case file. For two years, the journalist has served as an example. Like the case of Floriane Irangabiye before her, this arbitrary detention was intended to bring the rest of the journalism industry into line. RSF is relieved that Sandra Muhoza, who has already paid far too high a price for her journalism, can finally regain her full freedom, and calls on the Burundian authorities not to repeat such attacks on press freedom.
Sadibou Marong
Director, RSF Sub-Saharan Africa
Arrested on 13 April 2024 in the city of Ngozi, where she was living at the time, Sandra Muhoza was prosecuted for sharing information - in a WhatsApp group for journalists - about the alleged distribution of weapons by the Burundian authorities to youth members of the ruling party. Five days later, she was transferred to Mpimba Central Prison in Bujumbura.
A marathon legal process
Sandra Muhoza was initially sentenced on 16 December 2024 to 21 months in prison for "undermining the integrity of the national territory" and "racial aversion" by a Mukaza Court of First Instance, in the province of Bujumbura. However, the Mukaza Court of Appeal ultimately annulled these proceedings in June 2025, declaring that the first instance court lacked territorial jurisdiction to rule on the case. The case was then referred to the Ngozi High Court. Despite these events, the journalist was not released, but transferred to the Ngozi women's prison on 26 September 2025 as part of a second set of proceedings over the same charges. On 13 January 2026, the journalist was then sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of 200,000 Burundian francs (around 60 EUR).
During her transfer, Sandra Muhoza was on crutches and had difficulty moving as a result of health problems affecting her back and legs behind bars. Since the end of November, however, her health has improved following medical treatment.
Published on 13.04.2026
RSF - Reporters sans frontières published this content on April 13, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 15, 2026 at 09:58 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]