Gitega : a man found dead after being arrested by members of the joint security committees

The body of Selemani Ciza, 41 years old and father of three children, was found on Sunday in the Magarama neighborhood. It is in the political capital Gitega. Witnesses say he had been arrested by members of the local joint security committees the day before.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The body of the forty-year-old was discovered on the First Avenue, at the place commonly called “Place”. The information is confirmed by Léandre Nzibarega, the Magarama neighborhood chief who says he is unaware of the circumstances of his death.

Witnesses in Magarama claim that the man was apprehended by members of the joint security committees, then seriously beaten up and finally finished off with clubs. The same sources say that Selemani Ciza had been suspected of being part of a group of local bandits. It was the day before his body was discovered.

“[…] But they presented no evidence”, deplore residents.

They add that his body had many injuries to the head, arms and legs.

The administration and local police have launched an investigation. The joint security committees are for the most part dominated by members of the CNDD-FDD youth league, the Imbonerakure and demobilized members of the former Hutu rebellion.

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Illustration photo : residents at the site of a macabre discovery in the town of Gitega, March 2022