Bujumbura – Gasarara : six people killed in a witch hunt led by Imbonerakure

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, July 2, 2025 – Six people, all members of the ruling CNDD-FDD party, were killed on Monday, June 30, 2025, in Gasarara village, in Nyabiraba district, Bujumbura province (western Burundi). They were accused of witchcraft and publicly executed by a mob led by the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of the ruling party. According to witnesses and local sources, these murders were committed under the supervision of a local CNDD-FDD official.

The tragedy occurred in broad daylight, on the eve of Burundi’s independence celebrations. According to witnesses on the scene, two men were burned alive and four women were beaten to death with clubs and stones. The victims were executed in their homes or in public, simply on accusations of witchcraft, without any shred of evidence.

“Suspicions arose after several unexplained deaths, including those of a teacher and a child. This was enough for some youths, led by a certain Elysée, presented as the local leader of the Imbonerakure, to orchestrate the lynchings,” explained residents of Gasarara.

A delayed response from the authorities

Law enforcement intervened too late, as the attackers had already fled. According to the Burundi National Police (PNB), at least 16 people, including several Imbonerakure, were arrested. Burundian Interior Minister Martin Niteretse visited the scene the day after the tragedy and promised that justice would be done. A PNB spokesperson stated that the arrestees’ files have been forwarded to the prosecutor’s office.

A context of superstition and impunity

Witchcraft accusations are common in the small east African nation, particularly in the northwest, southwest, and east regions. While these cases are often presented as facts related to local beliefs, sources say they sometimes conceal score-settling or political motives.

“What happened in Gasarara is unprecedented : it’s the first time so many people have been killed in a single day under the pretext of witchcraft. It’s a worrying signal,” said a local source.

Residents of the village accuse the local CNDD-FDD representative of having approved the act, thus fueling a climate of fear and division.

A serious human rights violation

This massacre constitutes a flagrant violation of the right to life and the right to a fair trial, guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and by international conventions ratified by Burundi. The methods used—burning, stoning, and beatings—constitute inhuman and degrading treatment prohibited by the Convention Against Torture.

Urgent calls for justice and prevention

The victims’ families are calling for exemplary and transparent justice. They demand that all those responsible, including the instigators and authorities who covered up these crimes, be prosecuted without leniency.

Several human rights organizations and defenders are calling for :

The identification and prosecution of all perpetrators and accomplices of these murders.

The fight against abusive accusations of witchcraft through education and awareness-raising campaigns.

The strengthening of the presence and capacity of judicial and police authorities in rural areas.

A warning about the rise in community violence

The Gasarara tragedy highlights a deep malaise : persistent impunity, the exploitation of traditional beliefs, and the politicization of youth groups. If nothing is done, this type of violence could be repeated elsewhere.

For many observers, a firm and immediate response is necessary, not only to bring justice to the victims, but also to preserve the future of the rule of law in Burundi.