Ngozi : a man detained for witchcraft, his family denounces political persecution

SOS Médias Burundi

Ngozi, May 4, 2025 – The arrest of Elias Niyonkuru, a resident of Nyabihanga village in Ngozi district and province (northern Burundi), continues to spark outrage. Accused of witchcraft since April 19, the man is still held in the Mubuga zone custody. However, his family and several residents believe this is a pretext to silence a citizen whose political beliefs oppose the current government.

According to numerous testimonies collected by SOS Médias Burundi, Elias Niyonkuru was allegedly targeted for his support for opposition leader Agathon Rwasa. He reportedly refused to join the CNDD-FDD, the ruling party, despite persistent pressure from his entourage.

“He is being punished for his political opinions. It’s a blatant injustice. The witchcraft accusation is being used to eliminate him from the local scene,” says a family member.

In the region, several residents denounce an arbitrary arrest and demand his release. Some speak of a judicial system being used for political control, particularly with elections scheduled in two months.

When witchcraft becomes a political weapon

In Burundi, accusations of witchcraft are regularly used in rural areas to settle personal, family, or community disputes. However, in recent years, cases of their use for political purposes have been reported.
In 2022, two CNL activists were arrested in Kayanza (north) for “occult practices” before being released due to lack of evidence. In 2023, a female trade unionist in Makamba (south) was accused of witchcraft after denouncing cases of corruption in a government-backed cooperative.
Organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have warned of this worrying trend and called for strict oversight of witchcraft-related accusations to prevent judicial misconduct and political score-settling.

When contacted, the National Independent Human Rights Commission (CNIDH) said it was following the case closely. “We are aware of Elias Niyonkuru’s situation and the case is being monitored,” one of its officials briefly stated, without providing further details on any possible actions.

In the meantime, the detainee remains incarcerated without trial. His relatives are concerned about his conditions of detention, which they consider worrying. Several human rights defenders have called on the authorities to respect fundamental freedoms, reiterating that political affiliation cannot justify a deprivation of liberty.

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The town center of the province of Ngozi, in the north of Burundi (SOS Médias Burundi)