Gitega : the body of a murdered man discovered near his home

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, May 3, 2026 — The lifeless body of Deogratias Bigirimana, a 54-year-old avocado merchant, was discovered early Sunday morning, May 3, 2026, in Rutegama village, in the district and province of Gitega, in central Burundi.

According to a witness at the scene, the victim was found near the fence of the Burundi Revenue Authority (OBR) office, about 500 meters from his home. The body had severe injuries on the face and legs, suggesting an extremely violent attack. According to the same source, Deogratias Bigirimana was killed with a machete.

The information was confirmed by Evelyne Manirakiza, a local elected official, who indicated that the exact circumstances of the tragedy remain unknown. She specified, however, that the body had been moved and placed there, possibly to make it appear as though it had been a traffic accident.

No suspects have yet been apprehended. The victim was buried the same day, Sunday, May 3, 2026, amidst a climate of deep emotion among his family and the local community.

His wife, Odette Ntakarutimana, 56 years old and mother of seven, is calling on the authorities to do everything possible to identify and arrest the perpetrators of this crime so that they can be brought to justice.

In its first-quarter 2026 report, the Iteka League, a pioneering human rights organization in Burundi operating from exile since the 2015 crisis triggered by the controversial third term of the late President Pierre Nkurunziza, ranked Gitega province, located in the center of the country and home to the political capital, as the area most affected by homicides, with 37 cases in three months. It was followed by Bujumbura province, in the west of the country and home to the commercial capital, with 30 cases recorded over the same period.

According to a count by SOS Médias Burundi, at least 38 bodies have been discovered in Gitega province since the beginning of the year. While the victims have been identified in most cases, no independent investigation has been conducted to precisely establish the circumstances of these deaths or to determine any potential responsibility.