Bubanza : 20 years in jail for a murderous Imbonerakure, a rare verdict in the face of violence that often goes unpunished

SOS Médias Burundi

Bubanza, May 20, 2025 – On Thursday, May 16, the First Instance Court of Bubanza (western Burundi) sentenced Élisée Ntibazonkiza, a young member of the Imbonerakure League, to 20 years of penal servitude for the murder of Barasurwa, a fifty-year-old from Buhororo II village.

The crime dates back to May 12, when the victim went to the home of Jean Marie Nsengiyumva, to whom he had lent money, to demand repayment. Ntibazonkiza Élisée, a close friend of the debtor, allegedly violently assaulted Barasurwa, causing his death.

Before the judges, Élisée pleaded guilty and stated that he had acted with another young Imbonerakure, currently on the run. In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered that he pay compensation of 10 million Burundi francs to the deceased’s family.

Despite this judgment, which was welcomed by the civil party, the grief remains acute in the family of the deceased. His body remains in the morgue at Bubanza Hospital.

“We have nothing. Let those who killed our father take care of his burial,” said a relative, emphasizing the distress of a family left without support.

This verdict comes amid persistent accusations against the Imbonerakure, who are regularly singled out for acts of violence, intimidation, and targeted attacks, often without legal action.

For a representative of a local NGO, “this conviction is a symbolic step forward, but it remains an isolated one. The majority of complaints involving the Imbonerakure never reach a conclusion. It is time for the Burundian judicial system to break with the culture of impunity and guarantee fair justice for all.”

Pressure is now mounting on the authorities to find and prosecute the accomplice still at large. For the residents of Bubanza and elsewhere, a single verdict will not be enough to restore confidence in a system perceived as selective in its application of the law.

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The building hosting the Bubanza Court, which sentenced Élisée Ntibazonkiza. (Credit : SOS Médias Burundi)