Bujumbura Police: Kenny Claude Nduwimana Attack Sees Inaction

• Journalist Kenny Claude Nduwimana was violently attacked by three young men near his home in Bujumbura on September 13, 2026, sustaining an injury above his left eye.
• Despite being alerted to the ongoing presence of the assailants, the Buterere zone police chief failed to dispatch officers, reportedly turning off his phone.
• Nduwimana's family claims to have experienced harassment for several days following the assault and is demanding a full investigation.
• The journalist has a history of arrests and detentions, including a two-year imprisonment on charges like "undermining state security" and "disseminating false information," which he attributes to his reporting on sensitive topics.
• He was eventually released on March 4, 2026, after a presidential pardon, following a period where his case was controversially reopened and he was transferred to an intelligence service detention center.

The failure of law enforcement to intervene, despite being directly alerted to the ongoing presence of the attackers, raises serious questions about police accountability and the protection afforded to journalists in Burundi.

Burundian journalist Kenny Claude Nduwimana was subjected to a violent assault on a Sunday evening near his residence in the Buterere zone, situated north of Bujumbura, the commercial capital. The incident, which occurred on September 13, 2026, involved three young men who ambushed Nduwimana and his wife as they returned from accompanying visitors to a roadside taxi stand. The assailants struck the journalist forcefully on the head with a plank, causing an injury above his left eye and near his face.

Following the attack, the three perpetrators reportedly remained in the immediate vicinity. Nduwimana, with the assistance of neighbors, promptly contacted the police chief for the Buterere zone. The chief reportedly assured him that officers would be dispatched to apprehend the attackers. However, despite this assurance, no police intervention materialized while the assailants were still present in the area, according to accounts from the journalist and his family. The police chief subsequently became unreachable, reportedly turning off his phone. Nduwimana later received medical attention at a health facility in Bujumbura before returning home.

The conspicuous absence of police response, particularly given that the attackers were still nearby and law enforcement had been directly alerted, has sparked significant concern and raised questions regarding police accountability in Bujumbura. The failure of authorities to act decisively to secure the scene or apprehend the individuals responsible for the assault on Kenny Claude Nduwimana highlights potential systemic issues within local law enforcement.

Adding to the distress, Nduwimana's family has reported experiencing harassment for several days following the attack, the origins and motives of which remain unknown. Relatives of the journalist are now calling for a thorough investigation to establish the full circumstances of the assault, identify those responsible, and ensure that accountability is determined. This pattern of events underscores broader concerns about journalist safety in Burundi and the protection afforded to individuals, particularly those engaged in sensitive reporting.

Kenny Claude Nduwimana, a journalist for Jayce TV, is recognized for his work on sensitive topics, and his professional career has been frequently interrupted by arrests and legal challenges. In 2021, he faced multiple arrests, and on October 3, 2023, he was again apprehended at his Buterere home following a search conducted by approximately fifteen police officers. Authorities accused him of collaborating with social media influencers and interfering with the work of local officials.

His legal troubles escalated in May 2024 when he appeared before the Mukaza First Instance Court, facing charges including “undermining state security, insulting public officials, and disseminating false information.” Police Colonel Alfred Innocent Museremu, then the Permanent Secretary of the National Security Council and former head of domestic intelligence at the National Intelligence Service (SNR), filed a complaint in this case. On August 26, 2024, Nduwimana was sentenced to eight months in prison, having already spent ten months in pretrial detention. Despite the expiration of his sentence, he remained incarcerated at Mpimba Central Prison in Bujumbura, a situation that the National Independent Human Rights Commission (CNIDH) publicly denounced. In May 2025, the Bujumbura Court of Appeal controversially reopened his case beyond the appeal period, which Nduwimana described as judicial manipulation, linking his legal woes to his reporting on alleged land grabbing. He was subsequently transferred from Mpimba Central Prison to an SNR detention center in October 2025, causing significant concern among his family who struggled to obtain information about his well-being. After more than two years of detention, Kenny Claude Nduwimana was finally released on March 4, 2026, following a request for a presidential pardon.

The recent violent assault on Kenny Claude Nduwimana, coupled with the reported police inaction and his extensive history of arrests and detentions, paints a concerning picture for press freedom and human rights in Burundi. This incident highlights a pattern where journalists, particularly those covering sensitive issues, face significant risks, including physical violence and judicial harassment. The alleged failure of law enforcement to protect a citizen, especially after being directly alerted to an ongoing threat, raises serious questions about state protection and accountability within the justice system.

Such events contribute to an environment where journalists may feel compelled to self-censor, thereby limiting the public's access to critical information and undermining democratic principles. The repeated legal challenges and prolonged detention of Nduwimana, often linked to his journalistic work, suggest a broader issue of human rights violations and a lack of respect for fundamental freedoms. The call for an investigation into the attack and the harassment of his family underscores the urgent need for transparency and justice to ensure the safety of journalists and uphold the rule of law in Burundi.

This incident highlights significant human rights and press freedom risks in Burundi, particularly concerning state protection and police accountability. Lawyers should advise clients, especially those involved in media or human rights advocacy, on the heightened risks of arbitrary detention, harassment, and lack of state intervention, and assess the implications for due diligence and risk management in the jurisdiction.

Source: Original reporting via SOS Médias Burundi