Bob Rugurika - "Freedom of expression is my identity".

In a country like Burundi, which has become one big open-air prison, I feel obliged to carry all these voices, victims of the tyranny underway in Burundi. Thousands of compatriots have gone missing since the 2015 crisis, and all those killed are calling for justice, all those women regularly raped and violated, the hundred or so journalists in exile, all our colleagues back home who are painfully living with self-censorship. Yes, I carry within me this voice of the millions of Burundians living in unprecedented poverty administered by an illegal, illegitimate regime under investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.

For me, this is international recognition of the noble work of journalism in the service of humanity. Journalism is not an exact science; it's a profession that evolves over time and space. In Burundi, our journalism resembles a fight for the rights of those who have none. In my 20-year career, I have covered massacres of citizens perpetrated by agents of the state, political assassinations and enforced disappearances in which UN institutions have often declared their powerlessness, the gradual closure of democratic space, cases of serious corruption and embezzlement of public funds covered up by the top echelons of the state, and measures of total impoverishment of a population left to its own devices. After temporary exile to neighboring countries for safety, I was imprisoned and assassination attempts were made against me before I left the country nearly ten years ago. An award like this is a balm for a heart wounded by events. It's a message of encouragement that shows me, finally, that evil will not have the last word.

Freedom of expression is my identity. To deprive me of it is like taking away a part of me. For Burundi, I'm fighting for freedom of expression to manifest the truth, because in my country, lying has become a need for leaders.

A unifying role, through the truth of the facts. Beyond the facts, the media must understand phenomena to enable citizens to understand them. This requires investigative journalism and the promotion of frank and sincere debate with complete objectivity.

To my fellow journalists, I say NEVER GIVE UP, Dukomere. Freedom has a price, but always triumphs in the end. We will then be proud to have participated in this long march for the freedom of our compatriots.