The International Press Institute (IPI) is relieved at the release of online journalist Jean-Claude Kavumbagu, editor of the online daily NetPress, on Monday. Kavumbagu was charged with treason under the penal code of Burundi, and sentenced to eight months and a fine of 100,000 Bfu (56 euro) on a lesser charge of publishing an article “liable to undermine the state’s credibility and national economy”, but was released, since he had already spent ten months in prison at the time of sentencing on 13 May.

Kavumbagu was detained on 17 July 2010, after a 13 July opinion piece he wrote questioned the state’s ability to defend the country against a terrorist attack. He was arrested on charges of treason, which, according to his lawyer, are only applicable during times of war.  According to Human Rights Watch, Article 570 of the penal code of Burundi penalizes any citizen who “in times of war… knowingly participates in an attempt to demoralize the Army or the Nation, with the object of weakening national defense.”

The journalist was then placed in preventive detention, which, according to journalists’ groups in the country, is only permissible when the accused has defected on bail, or is “causing public disorder.”  Writing at the time of his arrest, the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA), claimed that the treason charge against Kavumbagu was “absurdly disproportionate”. “The government may not agree with him, but he is entitled to his point of view,” they said.

While Kavumbago’s release is a positive development, IPI remains concerned about the treatment of journalists in the East African country. In April 2011, the government suspended a radio program for four days because of alleged “grave accusations against the head of state” made by a caller to the show. The same radio station, Radio Publique Africaine, reported on 9 May that the phone lines to the station had been disconnected for seven days. Four RPA journalists – Raymon Zirampaye, Domithile Kiramvu, Bonfils Niyongere and Philbert Musobozi – are due to appear before a court for the third time on 9 June on charges of defaming and insulting Mayor Evrard Giswaswa in a series of reports, beginning on 18 October 2010, about a brawl in which he was allegedly involved, according to Reporters Without Borders.