Photo of the week-Five Green Hills International College pupils jailed in Gitega Central Prison

Five pupils from Green Hills International College, located in downtown Gitega, the political capital of Burundi, have been jailed since Thursday, October 30, in Gitega Central Prison.

This sudden and harsh judicial decision has sparked outrage among the families and the school community.

Angry and distraught parents

The parents of these pupils, who are still of school age, spoke to the press and expressed their shock and deep sadness at the decision.

They stated that the commitments made jointly with school officials, the police, and the administration had not been honored.

“We took all the necessary steps to ensure our children could remain free while the investigations continued. But against all expectations, they were arrested and sent to prison,” laments a parent.

Acts of vandalism at the root of the problem

As a reminder, the five pupils were arrested on October 25 after destroying security cameras, vandalizing a large television, and damaging several office doors and windows.

According to sources close to the school, these acts were allegedly committed under the influence of drugs, which reportedly exacerbated the situation.

A pledge of compensation that went unfulfilled

The parents point out that they had pledged to pay 89 million Burundi francs (FBu), corresponding to the total value of the property destroyed, vandalized, burned, and looted.
In return, the authorities reportedly promised to release the pupils on bail while the investigations proceeded.

“We don’t understand why our children were jailed whereas we agreed to pay for the damages,” they added, calling on school officials and the public prosecutor in Gitega to honor their promises.

A case that sparks a debate

This case, involving school violence, drug use, and institutional responsibility, has generated numerous reactions in Gitega.

Observers are calling for a balanced solution that takes into account both the seriousness of the events and the need to give these young pupils a second chance.

Finally, it should be noted that 14 other pupils, among the 19 arrested in the aftermath of the scandal, remain in custody at the Gitega police station.

Photo : pupils from Green Hills International College in a computer lab at the school. Five pupils from the same school were recently jailed in Gitega Central Prison. (Photo credit : Green Hills International College / SOS Médias Burundi)