Cibitoke : gold rush leaves two Dead in mining pits

SOS Médias Burundi

Cibitoke, January 5, 2026 – In western Burundi, two men involved in artisanal gold mining were found dead on Friday evening, January 2, at the bottom of mining pits on Gisaba hill, Buhindo zone, Cibitoke district, in Bujumbura province. An investigation has been announced by local authorities.

According to sources within the civil protection police, the bodies of the two gold miners were discovered in the early evening in the pits they were working. The victims were reportedly bound by the neck before being thrown into the pits.

Information confirmed by their families indicates that the two men were in possession of a significant quantity of gold at the time of their disappearance. Missing since December 30, their relatives say they have searched for them in vain. The bodies, found in an advanced state of decomposition, are believed to have remained in the pits for approximately four days before their discovery.

Local authorities have authorized the burial of the victims on Buhindo hill, among their respective families. Meanwhile, the relatives of the deceased are demanding that the perpetrators of this double murder be identified, arrested, and brought to justice, suggesting a possible settling of scores related to gold mining.

In recent years, artisanal gold mining in Cibitoke and several other areas of western Burundi has developed largely informally, often outside of any clear regulatory framework. This gold rush is accompanied by recurring conflicts between miners, accusations of theft, extortion, and, at times, serious acts of violence. The administration has repeatedly called on gold miners to form associations in order to obtain legal permits for their operations and to better regulate their activities, but these calls have not been fully heeded. Residents also denounce the inadequate security around the mining sites, which are regularly singled out as high-risk areas.

An investigation has been announced, and the population is urged to cooperate.

Contacted by SOS Médias Burundi, the district administrator and the police chief in Cibitoke indicated that no suspects have yet been apprehended. They announced the opening of thorough investigations to shed light on what they described as a “heinous crime” and called on the population to cooperate by providing any information that could help identify the perpetrators.