Gatumba : the controversial detention of the police station chief and his deputy shakes the PNB

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, October 27, 2025 – The police station chief of Gatumba, Major Sylvestre Nshimirimana, on the border between Burundi and the DRC, and his deputy, Priscille Ndayisenga, have been detained in the central prison of Bujumbura (the commercial capital), known as Mpimba, since the evening of Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

Three other police officers are also detained in the same case. According to sources close to the case, the case allegedly began when a senior officer assigned to the Burundi National Police (PNB) General Inspectorate attempted to bribe the two officials.

A bribery attempt rejected

“He was trading drinks between Burundi and the DRC. One day, 27 crates of Bock beer were seized before being transported to Uvira (DRC). He offered the two officers one and a half million, but they refused,” our sources explain. After this failed attempt, the officer allegedly handed a bag of money to a group of police officers so that they could incriminate Majors Nshimirimana and Ndayisenga, but they also refused.

An arrest that raises questions

Events took a new turn on October 18 when two police officers were intercepted by agents of the National Intelligence Service (SNR) in possession of a bag containing nearly two million Burundi francs, supposedly intended for the officers. “They were arrested on Saturday, October 18. But the station chief was not informed,” our sources said.

The next day, the two officers, the non-commissioned officer, and the head of administration at the police station were taken for questioning by the judicial police in Bujumbura. The head of administration was subsequently released, while the other three—Major Nshimirimana and Ndayisenga, as well as the non-commissioned officer—were questioned by agents of the anti-corruption court and prosecuted for corruption.

Signs of a fabricated case?

Some sources within the court claim that the two officers had already been expected since October 17. “This shows that this is a fabricated case,” confided a PNB officer on condition of anonymity.

To cover his name, the officer behind the arrests also reportedly ordered the detention of two police officers used to incriminate Gatumba’s officials. On Sunday, October 19, the team that came to make the arrests was accompanied by two new officers, who were installed the same day, another factor that, according to several sources, indicates that the case may have been fabricated.

Appeal to the Presidency and the rconomic context

Colleagues of the detained officers called on the Presidency to closely monitor the case, deeming it unacceptable that exemplary officials should be unlawfully jailed. The official behind these arrests is a former member of the National Intelligence Service (SNR), often cited in human rights violations in Burundi, and also involved in the illegal trade of beverages, sugar, and fuel between Burundi and the DRC—a business that has become commonplace, with transactions being conducted in dollars.

To date, the Burundi National Police has not yet commented on this case.