Rumonge : two people arrested for alleged rape of minors

SOS Médias Burundi

Rumonge, June 2, 2025 — Two individuals suspected of raping minors were arrested in Rumonge province, in the southwest of the country. They are Niyokigongwe, 15 years old, arrested on Saturday, May 31, and Alfred Iteriteka, 23 years old, arrested on Thursday, May 29, according to local police sources.

The two suspects are currently held in the Rumonge police cell, awaiting further judicial investigation. The victims, both minors, have been transferred to the Humura center in Mutambara, which specializes in providing psychological support to victims of violence.

A worrying rise in sexual violence

This latest episode comes amid a particularly worrying context, marked by a resurgence in cases of child sexual abuse in this province. In May alone, five cases of rape of minors were recorded in Rumonge. Two have already been tried, two others are under investigation, while one suspect remains at large.

Faced with this alarming situation, the victims’ families and several children’s rights organizations are calling on the authorities to intervene. They are demanding concrete responses and structural measures to curb this phenomenon.

“Judicial convictions are no longer enough. We must go further and understand why these acts are becoming increasingly frequent. We must protect our children differently,” said a member of a local NGO.

The local population, for its part, is waiting for concrete actions to ensure the safety of children and restore trust within communities.