Their arrest came as a shock, as they maintain that they are ordinary citizens engaged in private activities with no links to Rwanda's security services. However, the Burundian prosecution insisted that the women had travelled to Bujumbura with intentions to undermine the country's security.
In an interview with IGIHE, Nizeyimana explained that she and Nyirahabineza had entered Burundi through the Kobero border with Tanzania. They presented their documents, were asked about their purpose of travel, and explained that they were going to attend a wedding in Bujumbura, even showing an official invitation.
'We boarded a public vehicle, a Probox, and travelled. When we reached Gitega, the driver made a mistake. He was stopped by police but refused to halt when signalled,' she said.
According to her, when the vehicle was later stopped by other police officers, the driver was asked for his documents, and all passengers were ordered to step out. They were accused of being on a mission to destabilise Burundi.
'Nearby, there was a police station. They took us there, searched us, confiscated our phones, but found nothing suspicious. We thought the matter was over and waited to be released. Around 5 p.m., an officer came to interrogate us. We explained everything and hoped to be freed since there was no wrongdoing on our part.'
Instead, Nizeyimana, Nyirahabineza, and the driver were detained overnight. The police told them they were only waiting for fuel to transfer them back to the Rwandan border. The following day, however, an officer returned their luggage except for one item: a wristwatch belonging to Nyirahabineza.
'When we asked about the watch, the officer became angry and accused us of insulting him. He then reported us to his superiors, leading to a decision to keep us detained again.'
Although the watch was later returned, the situation escalated. On the following Sunday, the Prosecutor General came to take their statements. They expected release afterwards but were instead transferred to Gitega Central Prison, where they were held for months without trial.
With the intervention of a human rights organisation, the women were eventually brought before the court in June, facing charges of espionage. The prosecution demanded life imprisonment, but they maintained their innocence.
On August 22, the court acquitted them, but they were not released immediately as the prosecution was given time to appeal. By August 29, with no appeal filed, the Ministry of Justice ordered their release. However, their travel documents, including passports, remained withheld.
Thanks to support from the Embassy of Rwanda in Bujumbura, their documents were returned on September 3, and the following day, they flew back to Rwanda.
Nizeyimana recalled: 'On September 4, we went to Bujumbura, where the Embassy bought us flight tickets, and we returned home.'
She also described prison conditions in Gitega, where inmates are provided with raw food such as beans and flour but must buy charcoal to cook.
'It's not sustainable. If they give you beans and flour but no charcoal, you must buy it yourself. Otherwise, the food they give you cannot last until the next distribution.'
Because mobile phone access inside Gitega Prison is relatively easy, relatives were able to send them money to supplement their diet.
'Overall, we were not treated badly. The country has faced challenges, but friends and family supported us as much as they could.'
She credited their acquittal to divine intervention: 'It was God who helped us win the case. On our own, we could never have managed.'
Nizeyimana added that in Gitega Central Prison, there is another young Rwandan man who has been imprisoned since 2021, although she was unable to speak to him in detail about his case.
IGIHE
