Gitega : a young man found dead in a cell after a violent arrest attributed to Imbonerakure

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, May 22, 2026 – A 28-year-old man, Jean de Dieu Hakizimana, died Thursday morning in a cell at the Gitega provincial police station in Burundi’s political capital, two days after his arrest in Zege village by members of the Imbonerakure, in Gitega district and province. The circumstances surrounding his arrest and death have sparked accusations of violence and calls for an independent investigation.

A 28-year-old man, identified as Jean de Dieu Hakizimana, died Thursday morning in the cells of the Gitega provincial police station in Burundi’s political capital, two days after his arrest in Zege village in Gitega district and province.

According to witnesses, the young man was arrested on the afternoon of May 20 at the home of his friend Fleury Rivuzimana by two members of the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of the CNDD-FDD party, identified as Onesphore Nduwarugira, deputy village chief, and Fulgence Bimenyimana, the party’s local leader in Zege village.

According to the same sources, Jean de Dieu Hakizimana was severely beaten during his arrest before being transferred around 8:00 p.m. to the cells of the Gitega provincial police station.

The victim’s relatives claim he was accused of stealing goats. They indicate that he succumbed to his injuries around 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, while still in custody.

This information was confirmed by Jacques Hakizimana, chief of Zege village, who maintains that the victim was “known as a skilled thief” and that he had been arrested in possession of a quantity of meat.

After his death was confirmed, Jean de Dieu Hakizimana’s body was transferred to the morgue at the Gitega Regional Hospital before being buried on Friday.

So far, no arrests have been announced in connection with this case. The victim’s family is demanding an independent investigation to establish the exact circumstances of his death and bring those responsible to justice.

Imbonerakure: between security role and recurring accusations of abuse

The Imbonerakure are the youth wing of the CNDD-FDD, the former Hutu rebel group that has been in power in Burundi since 2005 following the Arusha Agreement signed in 2000. They regularly participate in night patrols alongside the Burundi National Police (PNB) and in border surveillance operations with the defense forces.

On several occasions, President Évariste Ndayishimiye and high-ranking CNDD-FDD officials, including Révérien Ndikuriyo, the party’s secretary-general, have praised their role in securing the country.

However, several human rights organizations denounce a rise in abuses attributed to some members of this wing, in a context marked by recurring accusations of violence, extortion, beatings, and arbitrary arrests.

In some border areas, particularly in the Cibitoke region, some Imbonerakure members have been prosecuted and sentenced to up to five years in prison.

In its 2025 report, the Iteka League, forced to operate from exile since the 2015 crisis linked to the third term of the late President Pierre Nkurunziza, states that it has documented 662 incidents of human rights violations resulting in 892 victims across the country.

According to this report, 402 people were killed, 156 suffered gender-based violence, including 104 sexual assaults, 53 people were tortured, 55 were abducted or went missing, and 217 were victims of arbitrary arrests and detentions.

The organization also reports having recorded 233 bodies found during 2025.

According to the Iteka League, the Imbonerakure are among the main alleged perpetrators of documented violations, with 110 cases attributed to their members, ahead of the police, intelligence services, and the army.