Murwi : two gold miners killed after a CNDD-FDD rally, the population in shock

SOS Médias Burundi

Murwi, May 24, 2025 – The lifeless bodies of two gold miners were discovered on Saturday morning in Gisaba village, in Murwi district, Cibitoke province. The victims, both members of the ruling CNDD-FDD party, were reportedly killed after attending a political rally. This double murder, of rare violence, sparked outrage and renewed suspicion among certain local groups.

The population of Gisaba, in the Buhindo zone, awoke in shock. The bodies of Marc Nzeyimana (30 years old) and Juventus Kubwayo (28 years old) were lying near a gold mining site. Both were known in the region as active gold miners and wore CNDD-FDD uniforms.

According to local security sources, the two men were returning from a ruling party meeting held the previous day in the provincial town center. They were reportedly attacked while carrying a few grams of gold, a loot that allegedly attracted their assassins.

“They were murdered in cold blood, then robbed,” said an anonymous security officer. Bladed weapons, including machetes and knives, were reportedly used. A rope was also used to strangle one of the victims.

While the identity of the perpetrators remains unknown, several residents point the finger at members of the Imbonerakure, the CNDD-FDD youth league.

“They are regularly cited in cases of theft and intimidation. This is not the first time that violence has been attributed to them,” said a Gisaba resident.

The Murwi district administrator, Melchiade Nzokizwanayo, confirms the crime but rejects the accusations against the Imbonerakure.

“These are baseless lies. Instead, we call on the population to collaborate with the police to advance the investigation.”

A police investigation is underway. While awaiting its findings, residents of Gisaba are demanding justice and protection in a region increasingly facing insecurity and targeted violence.

Persistent insecurity in northwest Burundi

Located in northwest Burundi, on the border with the DRC and Rwanda, Cibitoke province remains one of the most sensitive in the country in terms of security. In recent years, it has been the scene of several violent incidents, often linked to the presence of armed groups in border areas, clandestine mining activities, or local political and ethnic rivalries.

Independent reports have regularly highlighted abuses attributed to members of the security forces and the CNDD-FDD youth wing, the Imbonerakure. At the same time, impunity and weak judicial structures reinforce the feeling of insecurity among rural populations, already weakened by poverty and lack of access to basic services.

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Gold miners at work on a gold mining site in Cibitoke province, northwest Burundi (SOS Médias Burundi)