Rumonge : seven people arrested in a land dispute in Gatete

SOS Médias Burundi

Rumonge, September 3, 2025 – Seven people representing a dozen families were arrested on Wednesday on Gatete village, in Rumonge district, in Burunga province, southern Burundi. They are being prosecuted for rebellion against a decision of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, according to local sources.

Disputed land at the heart of a long-standing conflict

The dispute concerns a property located in the village, claimed by twelve families since 2012. The land has been renamed “Nkurunziza City” and is currently administered by a certain Benjamin Bikorimana, whom these families accuse of being behind their detention.

The case is already before the Rumonge local court, pitting representatives of the affected families against Mr. Bikorimana. The families claim that the latter used false documents to sign deeds of commitment on their behalf, and a complaint has been filed in this regard—but the case has not yet been heard.

Arrests deemed arbitrary

The families’ lawyer strongly criticizes the conduct of these arrests. According to him, his clients were arrested without a warrant, in flagrant violation of Articles 154 and 155 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which require prior notification and the intervention of a competent judicial authority.

“If the courts deem it necessary to suspend activities on this site, this decision should apply to both parties in the conflict, not just one,” he insisted.

He demands their immediate release, believing that the arrest of his clients hinders the proper conduct of the ongoing land trial.

Charge of rebellion disputed

Police sources claim that those arrested continued to cultivate the land despite a ban from the prosecutor’s office. The families, for their part, dispute this version, insisting they were never officially deprived of their land rights.

“We don’t understand why our representatives are being arrested when the case regarding the forged documents hasn’t even been reviewed by the courts yet,” complains a Gatete resident.

Suspicions of local authorities

The families also denounce the involvement of certain local authorities, whom they suspect of having facilitated their unjust expropriation in favor of Mr. Bikorimana. They speak of undue influence and a clear judicial imbalance.

An appeal to the President of the Republic

Faced with this situation, the families are calling for urgent intervention from the Head of State to resolve a land dispute that has been ongoing for over a decade.

“We have been peacefully defending our land for over ten years. “Today, we imprison those who demand justice. We want to be heard,” says a community representative.