14 life sentences, the verdict expected on Tuesday

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, July 7, 2025 – The First Instance Court of Bujumbura (western Burundi) delivered its closing arguments on Monday, July 7, in the case of the massacre of six people that occurred in Gasarara village, Nyabiraba district, on June 30. Fourteen people are being sought for life imprisonment for murder and desecration of corpses, following the prosecutor’s instructions. Three administrative officials are being prosecuted for failure to assist a person in danger. Three other defendants were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

The hearing continued late into the night, and the final sentences are expected to be confirmed by the court on Tuesday when the verdict is published.

A fast-track trial with high stakes

Tried under expedited procedure, the case involves 21 defendants accused of participating in this mass murder followed by the desecration of the bodies. According to the evidence in the case, the victims were poisoned before their bodies were burned in public, in an act described as “barbaric” by the prosecution. Videos presented as evidence show the alleged involvement of several defendants.

All the defendants have pleaded not guilty, some denying their presence at the scene, others claiming to have learned of the events afterward. The prosecutor has requested severe sentences, including life imprisonment for 14 of them.

Responsibility of local authorities under debate

Among those charged are the zone chief, the village chief, and the person in charge of ten houses (Nyumbakumi), prosecuted for failure to assist a person in danger. Their inaction during the events has been heavily criticized.

Mixed reactions

The victims’ families and some civil society organizations welcomed these indictments as a sign of justice. However, doubts persist about the independence of the Burundian justice system, as some of the convicts are believed to have ties to the Imbonerakure (members of the CNDD-FDD youth league). NGOs fear a quiet release, as in similar cases.

“This trial must not be a staged trial. The sentences must be carried out without political pressure,” warned a human rights activist.

Damages expected

The prosecutor also requested damages for the victims’ families. The final decision will be announced on Tuesday, according to the court.

The six victims were killed on June 30, 2025, in Gasarara village, in Nyabiraba district. They were accused of witchcraft and were publicly executed by a mob led by suspected members of the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of the ruling CNDD-FDD party.