Mahama : the killer hippopotamus strikes again, two Burundian refugees dead

SOS Médias Burundi

Mahama (Rwanda), May 15, 2025 — Two Burundian refugees, a man in his sixties and a 22-year-old pupil, recently lost their lives in separate attacks perpetrated by a hippopotamus in the Mahama camp, located in eastern Rwanda. These tragic incidents have caused panic among this refugee population. The victims are from Kirundo province, in northern Burundi.

The first tragedy occurred at the end of last week : a high school senior was surprised by the animal while he was near the Akagera River, which borders the camp. The second occurred on Tuesday, May 13, when an elderly man, a field watchman, was attacked in the same area.

“They were not lucky to survive. The hippopotamus seriously injured them; their bodies were unrecognizable and mutilated. During the funeral, only certain parts, such as arms and legs, could be buried,” recounted shocked neighbors.

The southern area of ​​the camp, along the Akagera River, which separates Rwanda from Tanzania, is known to be home to several hippos. Both refugees and local farmers complain of their persistent presence. Even livestock is often attacked there.

In response, the Rwandan police strongly advised refugees to stay away from the river.

“A fence will be erected soon to protect the residents. But killing these animals is prohibited for environmental protection reasons,” the authorities specified.

However, for many refugees, the Akagera remains an essential source of income. “We fish there, we draw water there to irrigate the fields or make bricks. It’s vital,” confided one refugee.

For camp officials, the situation is critical. “We have to choose between life and death,” insisted a local leader.

The Mahama camp currently hosts more than 76,000 refugees, mostly Burundians, who fled the 2015 political crisis, following another controversial term of the late President Pierre Nkurunziza.