Gitega : several people accused of witchcraft escape lynching after a suspicious death

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, April 15, 2026 – Cases of mob justice related to accusations of witchcraft continue to fuel tensions in some localities of Gitega province, where rumors surrounding a death nearly sparked a mass tragedy.

Tensions erupted in Gihamagara village, in the district and province of Gitega, in the heart of the small East African nation, following the suspicious death of a local resident. Seven people accused of witchcraft were targeted by angry residents before being detained by security forces.

According to eyewitness accounts, the events date back to Saturday, April 11, 2026, when Jean Marie Nizigama, who was celebrating his wedding, suddenly fell ill. He was taken to Sainte Thérèse Hospital in Songa, where he died on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

Following his death, residents suspected witchcraft and launched reprisals against several people in the area. Léonard Mperabanyanka, Nestor Kagoma, Catherine, Luc Karema, Concilie, and Spes Caritas Niragira are among those accused and targeted.

Beaten by the crowd, they were forcibly taken to the Itaba police station. According to local sources, angry residents attempted to storm the detention center to attack the suspects.

Faced with escalating tensions, the local administration intervened and ordered the detainees to be transferred to the provincial police station in Gitega to prevent a lynching.

Despite this measure, acts of reprisal have been reported, including the destruction of several homes and fields belonging to the accused.

Local authorities are calling for calm and reiterating that the accusations must be handled within the legal framework, as this incident once again illustrates the persistence of beliefs related to witchcraft and the risk of mob justice in certain communities.

In Burundi, cases of mob justice are frequently reported in various parts of the country. Burundian authorities have implemented coercive measures to address this, but the situation persists.