Burundian journalist Sandra Muhoza has been sentenced to 21 months in prison on charges of undermining national integrity and “discrediting the country’s image,” her lawyer confirmed Monday. The conviction stems from a message shared in a private WhatsApp group, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
Sandra Muhoza, 42, who works for online outlet La Nova Burundi, has been detained since April. Rights groups and her family have condemned the ruling, with RSF calling it politically motivated and urging her immediate release.
Burundi ranks 108th on the RSF press freedom index, with continued repression despite initial reforms under President Évariste Ndayishimiye.
