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A talk show host sentenced to 10 years in prison for undermining the integrity of the Burundi state has told the BBC she is delighted to be released.
Floriane Irangabiye spoke to the BBC as she left Bubanza prison nearly two years after her arrest, saying she could not wait to see her two children.
The 36-year-old also said it was unlikely she would continue in her role at the media company, which has frequently been critical of Burundi’s government.
Burundi has a poor record on press freedom. Ranked 108th out of 180 countries This is the latest global index released by the watchdog group Reporters Without Borders.
Before his arrest, the journalist had been living in neighboring Rwanda, where he ran Radio Igicaniro.
She had just returned to Burundi to attend a family funeral when she was arrested in August 2022 and was sentenced in January of the following year.
Ilangabie’s family said the president announced a pardon for Ilangabie on Thursday after she and her lawyers wrote to President Évariste Ndayishimiye asking for her release.
They also said she had a Severe and worsening condition In prison.
Before her release, Ms. Irangabiye told BBC Great Lakes Service She texted from prison, saying she was “hugely grateful to everyone who contributed to making this day possible – my family, human rights activists from Burundi and other countries, journalists in Burundi and internationally”.
“But I especially want to thank President Ndayishimiye from the bottom of my heart for taking this decision. I wish him all the best,” she wrote.
News of Ms. Ilangabie’s pardon was greeted with caution by local human rights groups, who urged the Burundi government to release others who had been unjustly imprisoned.
The Burundi Action Against Torture group said: “Justice and human rights for all must be respected,” while the Military Assistance and Security Commission said there were still “thousands” of political prisoners “suffering” in the country’s prisons.
Another high-profile detainee, A journalist named Sandra Muhoza was detained on similar charges Criticisms against Ms. Ilangabiyewhich remains under state custody.
This East African country Notorious for political violence and suppress dissenting voices President Pierre Nkurunziza dies suddenly He is 55 years old during the coronavirus pandemic.
Since his election in 2020, President Ndayishimiye has been praised for improving Burundi’s international relations. Implement some reforms at homeBut analysts say too little progress has been made. Human rights violations continue.
Cyriaque Muhawenayo and Robert Misigaro of the BBC Great Lakes Service also contributed to the report.
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