Bujumbura: a man’s whereabouts unkwonon

Jean Marie Bizimungu (30 years ) was kidnapped on June 7 in the commercial city Bujumbura. He can’t be found anywhere. His place of detention has never been notified to his family. His loved ones are worried about his safety.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

At the time of the kidnapping, Jean Marie Bizimungu was going to the economic capital, coming from his native commune Gihanga, in the province of Bubanza (west) a few kilometers from the commercial city. Witnesses say he was abducted by men in PNB (Burundi National Police) uniforms. His relatives affirm that “we do not know the reason for his kidnapping”.

“We also do not know the location of his detention,” they add.

Suspicion

Information not yet verified by SOS Médias Burundi suggest the kidnapping of Bizimungu is linked to a man murder on the night of May 15 to 16 in the Carama district north of Bujumbura. That night, Bruce Irakoze was assassinated by a group of five people, a Burundian police source said late in May. Pierre Nkurikiye told the local press that the victim was returning from the hospital to see his wife who had just given birth when his “friends” who were supposed to help him killed him. His car had broken down.

According to sources close to the case, the two cases are linked. They suspect that Jean Marie Bizimungu had information on the assassins of Bruce Irakoze who was her marriage godfather.

“The death of his godfather upset him in any case. And besides, his photo remained posted on his WhatsApp status,” they insist.

Jean Marie Bizimungu was kidnapped in the middle of the street not far from Bujumbura airport. Witnesses speak of an operation carried out by intelligence agents.

“Who else would dare in broad daylight around 1 p.m. to carry out a kidnapping on the public highway?” our sources ask.

The untraceable man is a trained nurse. He lived in the Mutakura neighborhood in the north of Bujumbura. Native of Gihanga, he used to go there to coordinate his business activities. He runs a pharmacy and a drink store there.

Since the start of the year, at least five people from Gihanga have been kidnapped by gunmen in Burundian police uniforms.

SOS Médias Burundi has learned of the existence of a long list of individuals to be kidnapped in this area where an attack by rebels from the neighboring DRC left 9 dead including a soldier from the FDNB (Burundi National Defense Force) last February, according to a press release from the Burundian government. In the case of Jean Marie Bizimungu, three men in Burundian police uniforms in a civilian vehicle were involved, according to witnesses.

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Jean Marie Bizimungu not found since June 7, 2024, DR