Gitega : two more bodies in 48 hours, the shadow of impunity deepens

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, February 16, 2026 – In the space of a weekend, two bodies were recovered from the Nyakijanda and Mubarazi rivers in two different localities in Gitega province, in central Burundi. These gruesome discoveries have reignited fear among residents and reinforced criticism of the authorities’ ability to stem the spiral of violence.

The first tragedy was reported on Saturday on the banks of the Nyakijanda River, at Macu village, in Gitega district. The body of Alice Ndimuruvugo, 35 years old, a single mother of three, was found wrapped in a bag, her arms and legs bound. According to a witness, the victim was eight months pregnant.

The woman in her thirties had been missing since Sunday, February 8, as confirmed by the Macu village chief, Audace Nkurikiye. According to this source, the murder may be linked to family conflicts stemming from a cohabiting relationship.

Two men, Iréné Mbonwanayo and Séverin Nyawenda, were arrested on Sunday. They were initially held in police custody in Itaba before being transferred on Monday to the provincial police station. Police indicate they will be brought before a judge to answer the charges against them.

Less than 24 hours later, a second body was recovered from the Mubarazi River, on the banks of Gaterama village, in Bugendana district. The deceased was a man whose identity was not yet known at the time of writing. The discovery was confirmed by the deputy village chief, Renate Hatungimana. The body was transferred to the Busangana health center morgue for identification.

For many residents, these two cases are not isolated incidents. Last year, Ligue Iteka, a pioneering human rights organization in Burundi, forced to work from exile since the 2015 crisis triggered by Pierre Nkurunziza’s controversial third term, had already ranked the province among the areas most affected by deadly violence.

Since the beginning of the year, some fifteen bodies have been discovered in the province, according to a count by SOS Médias Burundi. Despite the repeated tragedies, few investigation results are made public, and the alleged perpetrators are rarely brought to justice, residents complain.
For them, the lack of clear answers from the authorities fuels a feeling of abandonment and reinforces the perception of impunity as something almost routine.