Burunga : a man sentenced to 10 years for rape of a minor in Rumonge

SOS Médias Burundi

Rumonge, July 25, 2025 – The First Instance Court of Rumonge, in Burunga province (southern Burundi), sentenced Eddy Émile Nkurunziza on Tuesday, July 22, to a 10-year prison sentence for the rape of a 15-year-old minor. The case, tried in flagrante delicto and behind closed doors, reflects the seriousness of the facts and the authorities’ desire to protect the victim.

The victim is a teenage girl from Gitaza village, in Muhuta district, a province bordering Bujumbura. The defendant, an agent in the Fisheries Department responsible for collecting data on fish production at Gitaza beach, allegedly abused the young girl.

Arrested on July 17, 2025, Eddy Émile Nkurunziza remained detained at the Rumonge provincial police station until his trial. During the hearing, he denied the rape charges, claiming that the sexual relations were consensual, a version rejected by the court.

After hearing the parties in camera, the court found the defendant guilty of rape of a minor. In addition to the prison sentence, he was ordered to pay compensation of two million Burundi francs to the victim, in reparation for the harm suffered.

This judicial decision illustrates the determination of the Burundian authorities to combat sexual violence, particularly against minors, and to ensure justice for victims.

The Rumonge region is cited among the areas where several cases of sexual violence and rape of minors have been reported in the small east African nation.