Gitega : a man found hanged; residents dispute the suicide theory

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, October 27, 2026 — The lifeless body of 52-year-old Emmanuel Barahinduka was discovered on Sunday, October 25, at his home in Mugaruro village, in the Gishubi district of Gitega Province, central Burundi. While the local village chief suggests suicide, several residents reject this account, suspecting instead a homicide staged to look like a suicide. They are calling for an independent investigation to establish the exact circumstances of his death.

According to a witness, Emmanuel Barahinduka was found hanging from a rope tied to the roof structure of his house. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, and the motives are not yet known.

The chief of Mugaruro village, Emmanuel Ntandikiye, describes the incident as a suicide—an explanation contested by several residents, who believe the victim may have been killed before his body was suspended to make it appear as a suicide.

These residents point, in particular, to potential land disputes, though they have not publicly provided evidence linking these conflicts to Barahinduka’s death. They are urging the relevant authorities to conduct an independent investigation to clarify the circumstances of the death and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

The body was taken to the Mugaruro health center before being buried on Monday, October 26.

Another recent death in the same district

This discovery comes less than two weeks after the death of 43-year-old Félix Nsabimana, whose body was found on October 15 at his home in Rweza village, in the same Gishubi district. According to reports from the time, Félix Nsabimana died following a grenade explosion at his home. The precise circumstances of this event were never fully established.

Romain Runyegeri, the village chief of Rweza, provided information at the time regarding the circumstances surrounding the explosion. The incident raised questions about the presence of explosive devices at the victim’s home.

The two deaths, which occurred ten days apart in the same district, involve different circumstances. At this stage, there is no evidence to suggest a link between the two cases.

Around 100 people killed or found dead since January

The Gishubi district has previously been affected by other lethal acts of violence. In late July 2026, two people were killed within days of each other in this district : a young man was found stabbed in Buhanda village, and another victim was reported in Ngaruzwa village.

According to a tally by SOS Médias Burundi, approximately 100 people have been killed or found dead in Gitega province since the beginning of 2026. This series of deaths—each involving different circumstances—has raised security concerns and fueled calls for thorough investigations to determine accountability in cases where violence is suspected.

The discovery of Emmanuel Barahinduka’s body has reignited concerns among the residents of Gishubi. They are calling for investigations to verify the various accounts—including the theory of suicide put forward by the village chief—and to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the man’s death.

……

Local residents at the scene of a gruesome discovery in Gitega Province, in central Burundi (DR/SOS Médias Burundi)