Photo of the week-Rumonge : an angry crowd besieges the prosecutor’s office to release their village chief

A high tension prevailed last Thursday in the town center of Rumonge district. Dozens of residents of Mwange village, in Burunga Province, southern Burundi, besieged the prosecutor’s office to demand the release of their newly elected village chief, Oscar Nijimbere.

Arrested at his home around 12:30 p.m. by police officers, Mr. Nijimbere was accused of cohabitation. According to several residents, this was a “complete fabrication” orchestrated by opponents who had not yet accepted his victory in the recent village elections. However, a police source confirmed the existence of a complaint against the elected official.

The protesters, composed of women, young people, and men, gathered in front of the prosecutor’s office, demanding his release. The police attempted to disperse the crowd using force. Witnesses denounced the violence :

“The police used brutality, even though we are in a supposedly democratic country. Even the cell phones of journalists taking photos were seized, before being returned by the operations commander. Women and young people who had gathered in front of the prosecutor’s office were violently beaten,” testified a resident of Mwange.

Despite this repression, the demonstrators remained on site until 5:20 p.m., when Oscar Nijimbere was released after being questioned by a magistrate. In a triumphant mood, the crowd returned to Mwange, about 6 km away, chanting slogans in support of their elected official.

Our photo : Mwange residents, including children, gathered in front of the Rumonge prosecutor’s office to demand the release of their village chief (SOS Médias Burundi)