Buraza: four district leaders of the CNL party in detention

Four CNL leaders in the district of Buraza, in the province of Gitega (Central Burundi) were arrested last Saturday. They are accused of stealing sweet potatoes from a crop field. False, says the CNL party, which sees a political motive behind the detention of its four district leaders. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Isaac Ndayisenga, head of the CNL party in the district of Buraza, Gilbert Ndayisaba in charge of youth, Mérite Munyaneza in charge of ideology and propaganda and Boniface Nyandwi in charge of mobilization were arrested by the police.

They were in the district office of the CNL located in Rweza village planning activities of this opposition political party.

They were taken to police cells in Buraza where they are currently held.

The four district leaders of this opposition political party were arrested on the orders of the administrator of the district of Buraza, Désiré Niyongabo. They are accused of being on the list of people who stole sweet potatoes from a crop field.

Boniface Nyandwi from the Batwa minority was personally accused of possessing bows and arrows.

This information is confirmed by a CNL party official in Buraza who speaks of “fabrication”. He deplores the fact that the political space is still undermined and restricted to opposition parties. “Behind these allegations are political motives”, he said. He calls for their release.

The administrator of the district of Buraza, Désiré Niyongabo, declined to comment.