Two men, including a local representative, reported missing after their arrest by the SNR in Mugina

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, November 1, 2025 — In Gasebeyi, Buhoro zone, Mugina district, in Bujumbura province, western Burundi, two men, including a local representative, were arrested on Thursday, October 30, by agents of the SNR (National Intelligence Service), accompanied by the Imbonerakure, members of the youth wing of the CNDD-FDD, the ruling party.

Since then, their families say they have had no news of them, causing concern and raising questions in the community.

An arrest with unclear circumstances

According to several witnesses interviewed on site, the incident took place on the morning of Thursday, October 30. SNR agents, escorted by Imbonerakure (youth wing of the Burundian ruling party), went to the home of Égide Nishimwe, chief of Gasebeyi village, and his neighbor Ndikumana, nicknamed Basoda. The two men were arrested, handcuffed, and then put into a vehicle with license plate D3984A, driven, according to witnesses, by the head of the SNR for the Cibitoke district.

Since then, neither their families nor the local authorities know their whereabouts.

“We searched all the police stations and detention centers in the area, without success,” confided a family member of one of the missing men.

Suspicions of links to a rebel movement

According to some security sources, the two men are suspected of having ties with the Red Tabara armed group, based in the Democratic Republic of Congo – an accusation that their families and several residents of Gasebeyi firmly reject.

“It’s incomprehensible, because both of them had left the CNL party and had joined the CNDD-FDD, the ruling party,” a close associate testified.

An Imbonerakure member who participated in the operation, speaking on condition of anonymity, confided :

“We had our doubts. Even though they had joined our party, they continued to associate with suspicious people. That’s why we reported their case to the authorities.”

Worrying disappearances in the region

This latest incident has reignited fears among residents of Mugina district, where five other people were reportedly arrested by the SNR over the past year, without any trace of them. Several families fear that their loved ones have been secretly executed.

When contacted about this, the Mugina district administrator, Anicet Saidi, acknowledged being informed of these arrests but said he did not know which security unit was responsible.

“We are asking the public to come forward with any information that could help identify those involved and find the missing,” he said.

A climate of fear and silence

In a context of mistrust and persistent political tensions, these disappearances are fueling a sense of insecurity among the residents of Gasebeyi. The families of the two men are calling on the authorities to shed full light on this case and guarantee their safety.

“We simply want to know if they are still alive,” concluded a relative of Égide Nishimwe, his voice trembling.