Previous 9 / 33 Next

ACHPR/COMM/587/15/BUR/1372/1 6, ACHPR/COMM/587/1 5/BUR/1875/1 6, ACHPR/COMM/587/1 5/BUR/264/17, ACHPR/COMM/587/15/BUR/396/1 7, ACHPR/COMM/587/1 5/BUR/688/17, et ACHPR/COMM/587/15/BUR/1580/1 7 respectivement du 8 mars 2016, 30 mai 2016, 1 9 juillet 2016, 23 novembre 201 6, 1 3 avril 2017, 5 juin 2017, 22 aout 2017 et 8 decembre 2017. Examen de la Commission sur la recevabilite 46. La Communication a ete introduite sur le fondement de !'article 55 de la Charte africaine qui donne competence a la Commission pour recevoir et examiner les « communications autres que celles emanant des Etats parties ». Lesdites communications doivent, pour etre declarees recevables, remplir les conditions prevues a !'article 56 de la Charte africaine. 47.Aux termes des dispositions de !'article 105(2) de son Reglement interieur de 2010, le Secretariat transmet a l'Etat defendeur, les moyens soumis par le Plaignant pour repondre. En l'espece, la Commission note que les prescriptions procedurales ainsi rappelees ont ete observees tel qu'en attestent les nombreuses Notes Verbales rappelant a l'Etat defendeur de transmettre ses observations sur la Recevabilite. Sur la base de ces constatations, la Commission decide d'examiner la Communication sur la base des elements en sa possession, conformement a sa pratique2 . 48. Cette question de procedure reglee, la Commission va se pencher sur la Recevabilite proprement dite de la Communication sous examen. Sur le point du respect de la condition posee a !'article 56(1) de la Charte africaine, la Commission note que la Communication identifie clairement le Plaignant et la victime representee dont les coordonnees et adresses completes ont ete fournies dans les soumissions deposees devant elle. La Commission estime que la Communication respecte par consequent la condition examinee. 49. Pour ce qui concerne le respect des dispositions de !'article 56(2) de la Charte africaine, la Commission rappelle que !'exigence posee s'entend de la compatibilite ratione personae, ratione materiae, ratione temporis et ratione loci de la Communication avec l'Acte Constitutif de l'Union Africaine et la Charte africaine3 . Ainsi, !'examen de compatibilite doit consister pour la Commission a Communication 292/04 - Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa c. Angola (2008) AHRLR 43 (CADHP 2008) para. 34; Communication 155/96 - Social and Economic Rights Action Center et Center for Economic and Social Rights c. Nigeria (2001) AHR LR 60 (CADHP 2001 ). 3 Communication 375/ 09 -Priscilla Njeri Echaria c. Kenya (CADHP 201 1) paras 31-39 ; Communication 307/05 - Chinhamo c. Zimbabwe (2007) AHRLR 96 (ACHPR 2007) paras 40, 48 ; Communication 300/05 - SERAC c. Nigeria (2008) AHRLR 108 (ACHPR 2008) paras 37-38 ; Communication 266/03 - Kevin Gunrne c. Cameroun (CADHP) paras 68-72. 2

Select target paragraph3

● ● ●

Communication 587/15 - Radio Publique Africaine (represented by Maître Lambert Nigarura) v. Burundi

ACHPR Decision

Preview

Type of Document

Decision

Keywords

Freedom of Expression / Digital Rights
Freedom of Movement
Freedom of Opinion
Functioning and Independence of the Judiciary
Participation in Government
Right to Fair Trial
Right to Information
Right to Information / Digital Rights
Right to Property
Telecommunications Regulation

Case Head Notes: Radio Publique Africaine (RPA) is a broadcaster that began to drew the ire of the Respondent State following its live broadcasts of demonstrations against the President's third term candidacy. On the first day it broadcast the live demonstrations, in April 2015, the RPA received a visit from three government ministers, who ordered the RPA to suspend the broadcast of the demonstrations. The next day, the National Radio and Television of Burundi cut the transmitters that allowed the broadcast of private programs within the country. Two days later police and members of the Intelligence Service invaded the RPA premises again and presented a warrant for the temporary closure of the radio station. Since that time the RPA has been prohibited from broadcasting throughout the entire territory of Burundi. In May 2015 a group of soldiers, who were attempting to stage a coup in Burundi, invaded the RPA premises and demanded it to be reopened so that they could broadcast their message to the nation. The soldiers went to the RPA journalists homes and forced them to turn on the radio to broadcast their message. During the failed coup, loyalist forces attacked the RPA offices with rockets, and destroyed the offices. The Complainant states that, since that day, the hunt for RPA journalists has begun, and that RPA journalists are now scattered throughout neighbouring countries. The Commission found a violation of Article 7 stating that the attempted coup did not prevent the Respondent State's judicial authorities from opening investigations aimed at identifying, and holding accountable the coup perpetrators, and that, accordingly, the Respondent State should also ensure that other victims of the coup can also access justice safely and assert their rights. By failing to include the alleged violations against the RPA in existing legal cases regarding the coup, and by failing to create safe conditions for the RPA and its journalists to have access to justice, the Commission found that the Respondent State violated both Article 1 and 7. On account of the undue pressure exerted by the authorities on the RPA journalists, specifically the intelligence services and the three ministers that were present on the RPA premises, the Commission found a violation of Article 9. They stated that, that form of pressure from authorities is incompatible with the principle of freedom of expression. Noting that the RPA journalists were already subjected to undue pressure from the authorities, even prior to the Coup attempt, the Commission noted that the climate created after the neutralization of the coup forced some journalists to flee the country, and other journalists to go into hiding and, therefore, the Respondent State violated the journalists rights under Article 12. The Commission found a violation of Article 13 stating that press coverage is a fundamental mechanism for enabling citizens to participate in the public affairs of their country, and that, by placing undue pressure on the RPA, the Respondent State placed an obstacle on citizens' participation in the public affairs of their country. Noting that the RPA never brought the case before the national courts, the Commission found no violation of Article 26, and stated that the facts presented were not sufficient to assess the independence of the judiciary. Regarding Article 14, the Commission stated that, given that the rocket attack on the RPA took place in the context of an attempted coup, there is no reason to consider that the destruction of the RPA was disproportionate to the objective pursued. However, the Commission also noted that the legitimate destruction of property does not prevent the government from assuming objective responsibility for the damage caused to third parties, which can be determined within the framework of an appropriate procedure at the national level. The Commission urged the Respondent State to create the necessary conditions for the safe return of RPA journalists who fled the country, and for the safe emergence from hiding of the journalists who remained in the country. The Commission requested the Respondent State to open investigations to determine the circumstances of the attack on RPA premises, and also to report back to the Commission on the measures taken to implement the decision.

Country

Burundi

Outcome: Decided on Merits

Year Decided: Mar 7, 2023

Rights Alleged to be Violated (ACHPR Provisions)

ACHPR 7: Right to Fair Trial
ACHPR 7.1: Right to be Heard
ACHPR 9: Right to Receive Information and Free Expression
ACHPR 1: General Obligations
ACHPR 10: Right to Freedom of Association
ACHPR 12: Right to Freedom of Movement
ACHPR 12:2: Right to leave any country including his own, and to return to his country
ACHPR 13: Right to Participate in Government
ACHPR 14: Right to Property
ACHPR 26 : Duty to Guarantee Independence of Courts
ACHPR 9.1: Right to Receive Information
ACHPR 9.2: Right to Express and Disseminate Opinions Within the law

Rights Violated (ACHPR Provisions)

ACHPR 9: Right to Receive Information and Free Expression
ACHPR 1: General Obligations
ACHPR 12: Right to Freedom of Movement
ACHPR 12.1: Right to freedom of movement and residence within borders of State of legal residence
ACHPR 13: Right to Participate in Government
ACHPR 13.1: Right to participate freely in government

Rights Not Violated (ACHPR Provisions)

ACHPR 14: Right to Property

Duration of Procedure

Nov 10, 2015 ~ Mar 7, 2023

Country Geolocation

Latitude: -3.373056

Longitude: 29.918886

Country Geolocation (linked ACHPR Decision): Burundi

Primary Documents

Radio Publique Africaine (represented by Maitre Lambert Nigarura) v Burundi.pdf
French
ML TOC
Download View

African Human Rights CLA 2.0

Select target paragraph3

Communication 587/15 - Radio Publique Africaine (represented by Maître Lambert Nigarura) v. Burundi

Primary Documents

Notifications