Gitega: Imbonerakure commit crimes with impunity

On September 2, Vital Ndabemeye died at Sainte Thérèse hospital in Gitega (central Burundi). He had been hospitalized after being seriously beaten up and injured by Imbonerakure (members of the youth league of the CNDD-FDD), according to witnesses. His torturers remain free even though they have been identified. Residents also accuse the same youths of having seriously beaten up a motorcyclist at his home on the night of September 9. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Both cases took place precisely in Rukoba village in Gitega district and province.

“On August 18, Imbonerakure arrested Vital Ndabemeye, 35 years old. They accused him of theft. They beat him up until he lost consciousness,” witnesses report.

Evacuated to Sainte Thérèse hospital in Gitega, he succumbed to his injuries on September 2, according to our sources that specify that his body has not yet been buried. The bill for the care, which is close to one million Burundi francs, must first be paid, SOS Médias Burundi has learned.

In the second case, it was a motorcyclist, a father, who was targeted by the same young people from the CNDD-FDD.

“Imbonerakure arrived very early in the morning at Sylvestre Niyomukiza’s house. They ordered him to go out, tied him up and beat him up like a wild animal to be put down. It was September 9. They left him dying, we don’t know if he will be able to recover and work, given his state of health,” deplore members of his family.

In both cases, the perpetrators are still free and have never been worried about their actions.

When contacted, the village chief of Rukoba denied the allegations made against the Imbonerakure.

“In the case of Sylvestre Niyomukiza, it was his wife who asked for help because her husband was beating her up. She had no choice. As for Vital Ndabemeye, he died of a chronic illness,” defended Modeste Ngendakumana.

Residents of Rukoba village, however, demand that the perpetrators of the two cases be brought to justice.