Rugombo : two decomposing bodies discovered, gray areas persist

SOS Médias Burundi

Two unidentified bodies dressed in Burundian military uniforms were found Thursday, April 10, in Rugombo, a few kilometers from the provincial center of Cibitoke (northwestern Burundi). The case is causing great concern, amid rumors of extrajudicial executions linked to the conflict in eastern DRC.

Cibitoke, April 11, 2025 – It is a chilling discovery. Two bodies in an advanced state of decomposition were found on Thursday afternoon on the 11th avenue, Rusiga village, Rugombo district, Cibitoke province. The bodies, wrapped in a tent and wearing Burundian army uniforms, were lying approximately 4 kilometers from the provincial town center.

According to several witnesses on the scene, the remains appeared to have been abandoned for several days. Security sources suggest a troubling possibility : they could be young Imbonerakure (members of the youth league of the CNDD-FDD, the ruling party), recently sent to reinforce the Burundian army deployed alongside the FARDC in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

“These young people were apparently eliminated after their return, suspected of having deserted or fled the fighting against the M23 rebels,” claims a local source, speaking anonymously.

This version is shared by several young CNDD-FDD activists, concerned about what they describe as a “deterrence strategy.” Some denounce increasing pressure on young people to enlist in the conflict, despite the risks and without clear supervision. Reports indicate an increased departure of young Burundians to the DRC or Rwanda, via unofficial border crossings, particularly via the Rusizi River.

When questioned about this, the district police commissioner in Rugombo confirmed the discovery. He specified that the bodies were buried without an autopsy or a visit to the morgue, officially to avoid “any health risk to the population.” This procedure raises questions and fuels suspicions of a hasty burying of the truth.

“Why bury so quickly without formally identifying the victims?”, asks a Rugombo resident.

Faced with this situation, several voices are calling for an independent investigation. Families, members of the ruling party, and local residents are demanding that the exact circumstances of these deaths be clarified.

This case is part of a broader context of questioning Burundi’s involvement in the armed conflict in eastern Congo, where human losses are beginning to spark unease and protests within the ruling party’s rank and file.

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A crowd at a gruesome discovery site in Rugombo, March 3, 2024 (SOS Médias Burundi)