Gitega : the suspicious death of “KONDAKONDA NYORORO” outrages residents of Nyamugari

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, May 4, 2025 – Outrage is running high in Nyamugari, a working-class neighborhood of Burundi’s political capital, following the brutal death of Damas Butoyi, a street shoe vendor known by the nickname “KONDAKONDA NYORORO.” The 43-year-old reportedly succumbed to his injuries on April 29 after being severely beaten up by individuals suspected of being members of the Imbonerakure, the ruling party’s youth wing.

According to several testimonies gathered on the scene, Butoyi was accused of theft by an unidentified woman, claiming to have lost a briefcase containing 100,000 Burundi francs and two phones, including a smartphone. The attack allegedly took place in broad daylight, on a neighborhood street.

“They beat him up like he was nothing, in the middle of the street, in front of everyone,” said a still-distraught resident.

Released a few hours later, Damas Butoyi returned home, seriously injured. He reportedly died around 7 p.m. at his home on the 1st Avenue in Nyamugari.

Interviewed by SOS Médias Burundi, neighborhood leader Majaliwa Ndayisaba denied any involvement of the party’s youth in this act of violence. He put forward a controversial version that Butoyi’s death was linked to the excessive consumption of prohibited beverages. He nevertheless admits that no stolen items were found during the search of the victim’s home.

But the local population does not believe this version. “He wasn’t a thief. He made a living selling second-hand shoes; he was well-known here. What was done to him was inhumane,” confided a distraught neighbor. Several residents denounced arbitrary mob justice and called for an independent investigation.

This case comes at a time when Gitega has already been tense, marked in recent months by a series of violent incidents that have gone unpunished:

In February 2025, a young motorcyclist was beaten up to death in Kabanga after refusing to “contribute” to a fundraiser initiated by ruling party activists.

In November 2024, a female trader was seriously injured after criticizing a local official in a bar in Magarama.

In August 2024, a teacher was briefly reported missing before being found injured. Witnesses claimed to have seen him forcibly taken away by youths identified as Imbonerakure.

These incidents, often hushed up or minimized by the authorities, fuel a deep sense of impunity among the population.

The neighborhood chief, however, assures that investigations are ongoing. He invites anyone with information to contact the Judicial Police Officer in charge of the case. Damas Butoyi’s body remains in the morgue of the Gitega Regional Hospital, awaiting the identification of his relatives.

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A main street next to the central market in the political capital, Gitega (SOS Médias Burundi)