Mysterious crimes in Gitega : two women found dead, the population concerned

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, May 12, 2026 — Two women were found dead in violent circumstances in Gitega province, central Burundi, within a few days. Local authorities indicate that investigations are underway, while no suspects have yet been officially arrested.

The first case involves 35-year-old Anitha Ndayishimiye. According to witnesses, her lifeless body was discovered on May 9, 2026, inside her home located in Mugutu vill, in Gitega district and province.

The information was confirmed by Suavis Ihorihoze, a local elected official, who stated that the body was already beginning to decompose when it was discovered. She added that the victim lived alone in her house.

According to Suavis Ihorihoze, the circumstances and motives for this murder remain unknown at this stage. The victim was buried the same day. No suspects have been arrested, with authorities citing an ongoing investigation.

A second tragedy was reported on the morning of Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Maza village, in Gishubi district, also in Gitega province. The body of Petronie Nzeyimana, a 60-year-old mother of nine children, was found by the roadside, not far from a bridge.

The chief of Maza village, Donatien Hezumuryano, confirmed the information, stating that the victim’s face bore several visible injuries. According to him, the woman was beaten to death with a club as she was returning home.

He lamented that no suspects have been formally arrested so far, despite detentions made as part of the investigation. He claims that four people were apprehended and subsequently released.

Faced with this situation, local voices are calling for more thorough investigations so that the perpetrators of these murders can be identified and brought to justice.

Last year, the Iteka League, a pioneering human rights organization in Burundi and forced into exile since the 2015 crisis, had already ranked Gitega among the areas most affected by deadly violence. Since the beginning of 2026, SOS Médias Burundi has documented more than 35 bodies discovered in the province.

In a context marked by the recurrence of such tragedies, concern is growing among the population, which fears an increase in impunity and the normalization of violence.