Rugombo : a man beheaded, a murder that raises questions

The body of a man in his thirties was found on Saturday morning, March 29, on the 9th avenue of Rusiga village, Rugombo district, near the provincial office and the Nyamagana River. His new motorcycle was located at the scene. According to initial reports, the victim was killed by thieves who failed to steal his motorbike. However, many residents suspect the involvement of youth members of the ruling party, the Imbonerakure, who are regularly cited in similar cases.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

A gruesome crime rocked Rugombo district, Cibitoke province (northwestern Burundi), on Saturday morning, March 29. An as yet unidentified body was discovered on the 9th avenue, Rusiga village, less than 500 meters from the provincial office and not far from the Nyamagana River. According to a security source, the victim, a man of about thirty, was decapitated with a machete. His newly acquired motorcycle was found intact at the scene, suggesting that the murder could be linked to an attempted robbery gone wrong.

Law enforcement, alerted to this gruesome discovery, immediately launched an investigation. The body was transferred to the morgue at Cibitoke Hospital, while police authorities are calling on the public to cooperate in identifying those responsible.

However, in the freshness of the crime, several residents are pointing the finger at young Imbonerakure members affiliated with the ruling party. Testimonies gathered on the scene highlight that these young activists are often mentioned in similar cases, including recent murders in the region. A local source insists that these youths are involved, especially since the crime took place near their posts established on the banks of the Rusizi River, on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Residents, concerned about the upsurge in these acts of violence, are calling on the authorities to conduct thorough investigations and guarantee security in the region. However, many observers deplore the fact that murders are frequent in Burundi, but that police and judicial investigations are never successful. It remains to be seen whether the justice system will be able to solve this case and identify the perpetrators.

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The town of Rusiga where the body was found (SOS Médias Burundi)