en years after Burundian journalist Jean Bigirimana disappeared, his whereabouts remain unknown, with his family, former colleagues and international press freedom organisations continuing to seek clarity over the circumstances surrounding his case.
Bigirimana, a reporter for independent newspaper Iwacu, disappeared on July 22, 2016, after leaving Bujumbura to meet a source, according to accounts from his colleagues and media organisations that followed the case. A decade later, no publicly confirmed conclusion has been reached regarding what happened to him.
On Wednesday, marking the 10th anniversary of his disappearance, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) renewed its call for authorities in Burundi to provide further information about the case.
“After 10 years without justice since the disappearance of the Iwacu journalist Jean Bigirimana on 07/22/16, the silence of the authorities is deafening,” RSF said in a statement posted on X, adding that it was urging authorities to “shed full light on his fate.”
The organisation’s statement reflects the continued concerns of international press freedom groups over unresolved cases involving journalists in Burundi. RSF has previously called for progress in investigations into attacks and threats against members of the media.
Burundian authorities have previously said they investigated Bigirimana’s disappearance. However, his fate has not been publicly established, and no person has been convicted in connection with the case.
The disappearance occurred during a period of heightened political tensions in Burundi following the 2015 presidential election crisis, which triggered unrest and increased pressure on independent media outlets.
Iwacu, one of Burundi’s private news organisations, has repeatedly raised concerns about the case and continued to call for information about its journalist.
The case remains one of the most prominent unresolved disappearances involving a Burundian journalist. Media organisations have cited it as a major test of efforts to ensure accountability and journalist safety in the country.
A decade later, the central question surrounding Jean Bigirimana’s disappearance remains unanswered: what happened to the journalist who left home on July 22, 2016, and never returned.
