Gitega : the lifeless body of a woman discovered in the political capital of Burundi

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, October 26, 2025 – A new case of suspicious death is shaking the city of Gitega, the political capital of Burundi. The lifeless body of Jeanine Niyonzima, 42 years old, was discovered on the morning of Saturday, October 25, 2025, on the 2nd Avenue in the Magarama neighborhood.

According to a witness at the scene, the victim was lying near her home. This information was confirmed by Léandre Nzibarega, head of the Magarama neighborhood, who stated that the exact circumstances of her death remain unknown. An investigation is underway to determine the cause.

The administrative manager is putting forward several hypotheses : “The victim had divorced 15 years ago. We believe that the consumption of prohibited drinks known as Kick, combined with an epileptic condition, could be the cause of the tragedy,” he said.

This hypothesis is considered unconvincing by several neighborhood residents, who are calling for an independent investigation to shed full light on what they already describe as a “murder.”

This discovery comes just two days after another similar tragedy : on October 23, 2025, the body of a 24-year-old woman, Nadine Irakoze, was found at her home in Zege village, in the Nyamugari zone, in the district and province of Gitega.

These successive deaths of women are worrying the local population, who are calling on the authorities to better protect women and ensure justice for the victims.