Burundian Court Ruling Highlights Chaos In Sandra Muhoza’s Case

By IFEX\Reporters Without Borders

Photos: YouTube Screenshots

Sandra Muhoza remains in prison despite a Court of Appeal ruling that it lacks jurisdiction, effectively nullifying her conviction and arrest warrant.

This statement was originally published on rsf.org on 1 July 2025.

More than six months after a trial in the lower court, the Court of Appeal in Mukaza found it does not have jurisdiction to rule on Sandra Muhoza’s sentence. This decision renders null and void the initial conviction and the arrest warrant for the journalist. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the authorities to enforce the law and put an end to the illegal detention of Sandra Muhoza.

She should no longer be behind bars. However, Sandra Muhoza’s legal drama continues to the point of absurdity. On 13 June, the Mukaza Court of Appeal, hearing the journalist’s case, found it did not have jurisdiction in the case. The grounds for this decision? The alleged offense was committed in Ngozi, not in Burundi’s capital.

This lack of jurisdiction de facto invalidates the journalist’s conviction by the lower court, as well as the arrest warrant issued by the Mukaza prosecutor’s office, which had led to her detention. However, more than 15 days after this decision, Sandra Muhoza remains imprisoned in Mpimba central prison, ‘on the grounds of an illegal arrest warrant’, according to Sandra Muhoza’s lawyer, Prosper Niyoyankana. He sees this as a way for the courts to ‘shirk their duty to judge’. This decision comes seven weeks after the reopening of the proceedings, ordered by the court on 26 April, on the grounds of the first court’s potential lack of jurisdiction.

“Not only should she never have been incarcerated, but she should not spend another second there! The continued detention of La Nova Burundi journalist Sandra Muhoza is based on judgements and documents that have been invalidated by the courts. It is now up to the authorities to ensure that the consequences of this decision are applied without delay. Free Sandra Muhoza!”

Sadibou Marong, Director, RSF Sub-Saharan Africa

An unfair trial

In December 2024, Sandra Muhoza was sentenced to 21 months in prison – 18 months for ‘undermining the integrity of the national territory’ and three for ‘racial aversion’ – for having relayed information about an alleged distribution of arms by the government on a private WhatsApp group for news professionals.

Prior to the reopening of the proceedings, the trial had been postponed three times, all for dubious – even spurious – reasons. A hearing was finally held on 26 March, at which the prosecution unveiled “new accusations without evidence,” according to the journalist’s lawyers, including exchanges with an activist and media in exile.

In response to the arbitrary nature of Sandra Muhoza’s detention, in March 2025 RSF referred the matter to the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR).

To Support our independent investigative journalism contributions are welcome via Cashapp to: $BlackStarNews

Also support Black Star News by buying merch from our brand new Black Star Store!