Burundi: priest says arrest of radio host seems a bid to 'silence the truth' on murder of nuns

February 02, 2015

A prominent Catholic priest in Burundi has called for the release of a radio host who was arrested in January after airing a man’s claim that he had been involved in the murder of three Italian missionary nuns.

Bob Rugurika, the host of the independent Radio Publique Africaine, was charged with “complicity” when he refused to identify the man who had confessed to the killings. The situation is complicated by two factors. First, police had already announced the arrest of a suspect, and said that he had confessed to the murders. Second, the unidentified man who made his own “confession” on the Rugurika broadcast said that the murders were authorized by a man close to Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza.

Father Pierre Antoine Madaraga has said that Rugurika should be released, and police should investigate the claims made by informant. Detaining the radio host, the priest said, “is like wanting to silence the truth.”

Church officials have consistently voiced skepticism about the police explanation for the killings of the three Xaverian nuns last September.

 

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Further information:

• Church official calls for journalist's release (The Local)
• Burundi radio host arrested after airing confession of man who said he killed Italian missionary nun (CWN, 1/15)