Amani Papy Ndikumana, a producer widely known as Papy Jamaica, was detained by the Service national de renseignement (SNR) on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. Intelligence agents apprehended the producer within the premises of the National Assembly of Burundi. This facility is located in the Kigobe sector of Bujumbura. The detention of Papy Jamaica occurred during his time at the site. The apprehension of the producer took place while he was present at the National Assembly, a key site for political activity in Bujumbura. The Service national de renseignement (SNR) carried out the operation directly within the legislative complex.
Allegations of Insulting Leadership
Witnesses at the scene allege that Aimée Nshimirimana, the head of communication at the National Assembly, accused Papy Jamaica of insulting the president of the National Assembly, Daniel Gélase Ndabirabe. These allegations emerged during the detention of the producer on 13 October. According to these accounts, Aimée Nshimirimana confronted the producer regarding his conduct and his reported remarks concerning Daniel Gélase Ndabirabe. The confrontation involving Aimée Nshimirimana preceded the intervention by the Service national de renseignement (SNR) agents who took the producer into custody.
A source close to the case further alleged that Daniel Gélase Ndabirabe ordered the physical mistreatment of the producer. The source stated, "Le président de l’Assemblée nationale a ordonné qu’on lui inflige une sévère correction." This directive, allegedly issued by Daniel Gélase Ndabirabe, reportedly led to the physical actions taken against Amani Papy Ndikumana following his initial detention by the intelligence services at the Kigobe sector facility.
Papy Jamaica previously experienced a similar detention by the Service national de renseignement (SNR). During February 2026, agents held him for several hours while he was covering a visit by European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During that February 2026 incident, the producer was engaged in his professional duties, documenting the official visit of European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib. The detention at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lasted for several hours before the producer was eventually released by the Service national de renseignement (SNR).
The recent events on 13 October 2026 mark the second time this year that the producer has been detained by the Service national de renseignement (SNR). The circumstances surrounding the apprehension at the National Assembly of Burundi in the Kigobe sector remain the primary focus of the ongoing situation involving Amani Papy Ndikumana. The allegations brought forward by Aimée Nshimirimana regarding the insult of Daniel Gélase Ndabirabe serve as the stated basis for the action taken against the producer at the legislative building. The claim regarding the physical mistreatment ordered by Daniel Gélase Ndabirabe adds a significant layer to the reports surrounding the detention of Amani Papy Ndikumana.
