Gitega : a 14-year-old found dead in bush in Kanyonga, an investigation launched

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, March 15, 2026 — The lifeless body of a 14-year-old teenager was discovered Saturday morning in Kanyonga village in Gitega district and province, in the heart of the small east African nation. The circumstances of his death remain unknown for the time being, while an investigation has been opened by authorities.

The victim, identified as Cedrick Irankunda, was found in a small bush located in this village. According to witnesses on the scene, the body notably showed injuries at the level of the legs.

According to residents, the young boy had been missing since March 12, which had raised lively concerns in the local community before the macabre discovery.

When contacted, Kanyonga village chief Hermenegilde Ciza confirmed the crime. The exact circumstances of the death have not yet been established, he said. Local authorities nonetheless specified that the teenager was suffering from epilepsy, a condition that can trigger seizures.

Within the framework of preliminary investigations, the victim’s mother, Desiderata Ndoricimpa, was heard by the law enforcement agencies. She was taken into police custody at Gihamagara for further investigation. According to administrative sources, this measure was registered in the framework of investigations aimed at ascertaining the exact circumstances of the crime.

In Kanyonga village, the excitement remains vivid. Several residents are calling on judicial and police authorities to lead thorough investigations to identify those responsible and shed all light on the death of the young boy.

Since the beginning of 2026, the province of Gitega has already recorded the discovery of a number of corpses in often disturbing circumstances. By 2025, it already figured among the deadliest provinces in the small east African nation, according to the Iteka League, a Burundian human rights advocacy organization that today forced to exercise from exile due to pressure exerted on local organizations.

Investigations are ongoing to elucidate the circumstances surrounding this new death shocking the local population.