Gitega : two people killed

Désiré Kwizerimana (40 years old), died from injuries inflicted on him by two soldiers, on January 16 at the hospital in Gitega (political capital). A second individual died while he was in detention in a police station in Bukirasazi district, in Gitega province, on the same day. They bring to seven the number of people killed or found dead in Gitega in just one month. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

According to witnesses, the first victim was seriously beaten up by two soldiers assigned to the 211th battalion of Gitega. The attackers were returning to their barracks on the morning of January 16, at the time of the incident. Local sources indicate that the three men were drunken and had quarreled.

Yvette Nibigira, a local elected official, confirmed the incident. She said that one of the two soldiers was arrested.

“He is held in a police cell. His colleague will also be arrested,” she said. She regrets that residents were unable to help the forty-year-old.

The second victim is a 30-year-old man. Fabrice Niyongabo also died from his injuries, inflicted on him by local members of the joint security committees.

These committees are dominated by Imbonerakure (members of the youth league of the CNDD-FDD, the ruling party) and former fighters of the former Hutu rebellion.

According to the Kibuye village chief in the district of Bukirasazi, Révérien Ntahonkiriye, Fabrice Niyongabo had been caught in possession of a pig that he had stolen from a household in the locality, before being beaten up by members of the joint security committees. “He died at the police station of Kibuye”.

Since December 19, at least seven people have been killed or their bodies found by residents, in unclear circumstances in Gitega province, according to a count by SOS Médias Burundi.