Burundi : two residences of former Prime Minister Alain Guillaume Bunyoni targeted by a police search
The two residences are located in the commercial capital Bujumbura and in the province of Rutana (southeastern Burundi). They were searched by police and intelligence on Monday. The Attorney General of the Republic suspects that colossal amounts of money are hidden in these residences. INFO SOS Médias Burundi
In Rutana, the residence that was excavated is located in Rongero village. It is located in the district and province of Rutana. “Several police officers were deployed very early this morning at the residence of former Prime Minister Alain Guillaume Bunyoni. Around 7 a.m., the provincial intelligence officer and the district commissioner, accompanied by an OPJ and several other police officers came to this residence”, witnesses say.
The targeted residence is built on a large plot. Inside there are playgrounds and offices.
The Attorney General gave the order to break down the doors because only the keys to the main gate were found at the scene. It’s an order he gave over the phone.
In the south of the commercial city Bujumbura, several police and SNR (National Intelligence Service) agents also searched the residence of the former prime minister who was not on the scene, according to some sources.
“Even the children were forced to leave the rooms and go and sit on the veranda”, say witnesses.
At this residence located in Gasekebuye in the Musaga zone, there remains a very limited number of police officers, according to police sources who say that they do not even accompany Mr. Bunyoni when he travels.
“You understand of course that it was Bunyoni’s household that was targeted but the prosecutor signed a warrant to search the whole neighborhood. No resident complained. Isn’t that what you say every day? That no one should be above the law? Well, there was a warrant signed by the public prosecutor in good and due form and no one is above the law”, explained to SOS Médias Burundi an officer close to of the minister in charge of security.
In his warrant, the Attorney General of the Republic, Sylvestre Nyandwi, indicated that “colossal amounts of money were reportedly hidden in both residences”.
“We have learned that there is a high authority who would hold 20 billion in his house”, indicates a source close to the presidency. “Now the conflict is more than open. Relations between President Neva and Bunyoni were already bad but now they risk deteriorating”, analyzes a representative of the local civil society.
Former Prime Minister Alain Guillaume Bunyoni was dismissed in early September 2022 in a surprise way.
In December this year, the United States renewed sanctions against Mr. Bunyoni accusing him of having played a major role in serious human rights violations in Burundi.
Alain Guillaume Bunyoni, the only Burundian with the rank of General of Police, equivalent to Marshal in the army, is often cited in acts of corruption. But no court has proven it so far.
The Attorney General of the Republic, Sylvestre Nyandwi, and his spokesperson Agnès Bangiricenge were not available to answer our questions.
“Burundian leaders are in a race towards illicit enrichment. We are going to rob Saint Pierre to enrich Saint Paul. Unfortunately, we are witnessing struggles for influence and the grabbing of State wealth. The protection of the economy of the State seems to be the least of their worries despite the populist discourse. Corruption cannot be fought in a State where the culture of impunity has become the norm”, analyzed Lawyer Dieudonné Bashirahishize.
