Cibitoke: more than ten minors raped in less than a month

Little girls and under 15 adolescents are frequently raped in three communes of Cibitoke province. Reports show more than ten victims in the area in less than a month. Out-of-court settlements between victims’ families and rape perpetrators as well as corruption within the Judicial system, among other factors, increase cases. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

At least 11 rape cases have been recorded across three communes out of six in this Cibitoke province (northwestern Burundi ) in less than a month.

As child rights defenders say, victims are all minors aged between 9 and 14 years old.

The activists add that the Bukinanyana commune comes first with six cases, then Mabayi and Murwi with three and two cases respectively.

“The suspects are either Imbonerakure (members of the youth league of the CNDD-FDD party), or gold miners and bikers or certain teachers who have lost their sense of ethics,” indicates a local child rights defender.

What is irritating as parents and child rights organizations in Cibitoke, say, is the impunity of those rape cases observed.

“Caught in the act of raping a 14-year-old minor in a hotel and sentenced to 20 years in prison by the courts, an Imbonerakure was released from Mpimba prison (Bujumbura, commercial city) after only one year of incarceration “, bitterly regrets a child rights activist living in this province.

For almost a decade, there have been numerous cases of corruption attributable to judicial authorities. This considerably reduces the confidence of litigants in the decisions handed down in gender-based violence cases, in general and rape in particular.

“As this was not enough, amicable arrangements between the perpetrators of rape crimes and the families of the victims are often facilitated by grassroots administrators,” regrets an activist

However, some parents do not hesitate to pursue perpetrators before competent courts. They are sometimes blocked by a lack of financial means or legal assistance or are intimidated and forced to drop the charges.

“In the Murwi commune, two young people from the presidential party incarcerated in the dungeon were released under pressure from officials of the ruling party when they had been caught in the act of raping minors, all aged 13, at the very beginning of this month”, insists a relative of one of the victims met on site.

The public prosecutor at the high court in Cibitoke claims to have already heard this information but indicates that no one has so far come to court.

During a meeting of department heads held this week, the governor called on his colleagues to definitively break with practices linked to amicable arrangements.

He called on local leaders to always take rape cases to court.

Carême Bizoza also warns all local administrative and police officers and justicial agents, that severe sanctions will be imposed on them in accordance with the law concerning cases of corruption and amicable settlement of rape cases.