Bubanza : witch hunt spreads within the ranks of the CNDD-FDD

SOS Médias Burundi

Bubanza, June 23, 2026 – Five CNDD-FDD members from Mitakataka village, in the Mitakataka zone of ​​the district of Bubanza, in the province of Bujumbura, western Burundi, denounce accusations of witchcraft that they describe as unfounded and dangerous. Fearing for their safety, they are requesting the urgent intervention of administrative and judicial authorities to prevent any form of reprisals.

According to information gathered by SOS Médias Burundi, the individuals targeted are Ngendahayo, known as “Mandela,” and one of the CNDD-FDD’s local representatives, Adam, nicknamed “Commissioner,” Fabien Ntakarutimana, Jean Manirakiza, and Ruhenga. The accusations were reportedly raised during a meeting held on May 23 by the head of the Mitakataka zone.

According to several local sources, these five activists are accused of being responsible for several deaths recorded in the area since September 2025. Those implicated claim that these accusations are being fueled by certain local CNDD-FDD officials as well as other influential members of the Mitakataka community.

According to residents, six people have died in this locality since September 2025. Among them are three women who died during childbirth and three children. In this region, where beliefs related to witchcraft remain deeply rooted, some residents attribute these deaths to occult practices.

Those accused categorically reject these allegations. They assert that no evidence links them to the deaths in question and denounce a smear campaign that could endanger their lives.

“We have already contacted the administrative authorities and filed a complaint with the relevant bodies. We fear that these accusations are intended to incite the population to attack us,” one of the accused told SOS Médias Burundi.

According to him, the case could be linked to internal rivalries within the ruling party. He believes that disagreements between certain local CNDD-FDD officials have contributed to creating a climate conducive to the spread of these accusations.

The five activists also claim to have lost confidence in the Mitakataka zone chief. They accuse him of failing to take any action to stop the accusations, despite the tensions they are creating among the population. Some of the accused even suspect local authorities of being complicit in the situation.

They are calling on the district administration, the Bujumbura governorate, and the judicial authorities to open an investigation to establish responsibility and guarantee their safety.

Contacted by SOS Médias Burundi, the Mitakataka zone chief confirmed he was aware of the case but declined to comment.

In recent years, several cases of targeted assassinations of real or perceived opponents, based on accusations of witchcraft, have been reported in various regions of Burundi. In several cases, the victims had been publicly blamed for misfortunes or deaths before being attacked or killed. The Mitakataka case is among the very rare situations where members of the ruling party themselves claim to be targeted by such accusations and express fears for their safety. This case illustrates the persistence of beliefs related to witchcraft and the risks they can generate when they become intertwined with social, community, or political tensions.