Gitega : cascading transfers of inmates raise concerns

A total of 29 detainees from the central prison of Gitega (political capital) were transferred to the detention houses of Ruyigi (east), Muramvya (center) and Bujumbura (commercial city). They have been targeted as leaders of prisoners demanding justice for their fellow prisoner killed on May 14 by prison officials. They were transferred for the disciplinary reason. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

According to sources within Gitega prison, the Attorney General of the Republic, Sylvestre Nyandwi, had made the trip to Gitega following tension due to the death of Léonidas Ngendanzi, beaten up to death by his fellow detainees – responsible for detainees at night of May 14.

Twelve detainees were transferred from the central prison of Gitega (central Burundi) to the central prison of Ruyigi on 17 May.

On the same day, seven other detainees were sent to Bujumbura central prison, known as Mpimba.

On May 18, ten other detainees from Gitega central prison were also transferred to Muramvya central prison.

This makes a total of twenty-nine inmates transferred in two days.

On the files of 29 detainees is marked: “disciplinary transfer.”

According to a source that requested anonymity at Gitega central prison, “the 29 detainees who were transferred are made up of former protesters against the late President Pierre Nkurunziza’s other controversial term in 2015, activists from the MSD party ( Movement for Solidarity and Democracy) and the CNL (National Congress for Freedom) as well as those accused of the assassination of Lieutenant General Adolphe Nshimirimana, former head of the National Intelligence Service (SNR)”.

According to our sources, they were originally identified as leaders in demanding justice following the death of the victim.

They also demanded that the four representatives of the detainees of the central prison of Gitega, namely Japhet Hatibu, Éric Bimenyimana, Gilbert Nibitanga and Éric, be dismissed of their responsibilities.

The four prisoners’ supervisors were forced to spend a few days in a secure compartment before being admitted back to the buildings hosting other detainees. Prisoners, especially from the province of Karusi (center-east) where the victim came from, had vowed to “kill them and cut off their heads.”