Butanyerera : two people condemned to life for desecration of graves

SOS Médias Burundi

Matongo, June 24, 2026 – The First Instance Court of Matongo, in the province of Butanyerra, in the north of Burundi, sentenced two people to life imprisonment for desecration of a grave and harming the integrity of a corpse. This case, which also involves accusations of cannibalism and witchcraft practices, has caused a great stir among the local population.

On Monday, June 22, 2026, the prosecution prosecuted before the First Instance Court of Matongo five people, including three men and two women. The parents, all from Gitwe village, in Kabuye zone, Matongo district, are Ildephonse Nyabenda, Laurent Minani, Pontien Ndayikengurukiye, Béatrice Hatungimana and Régine Habonimana.

According to information gathered on the spot, the accused are involved in the desecration of the tomb of Divine Akimana, an 18-year-old girl who died under suspicious circumstances. Buried on June 6, 2026, her grave would have been opened on the night of June 9 or 10.

Local sources indicate that the body of the deceased was mutilated after exhumation. The alleged perpetrators would have taken away the head as well as other parts of the body. The head was then found hidden in a wooded area near the cemetery.

In the region, some people attribute the young woman’s death to mystical causes linked to a land dispute. However, no official evidence has been provided to confirm these allegations.

During the hearings, the prosecution sought life imprisonment against the accused. For his part, the father of the victim claimed a compensation of 10 million Burundian francs as damages and interests, in reparation for the moral damage suffered by his family.

After deliberation, the First Instance Court of Matongo found Ildephonse Nyabenda and Pontien Ndayikenkurukiye guilty. The two men were sentenced to life imprisonment.

The Court also ordered them to pay 10 million Burundian francs in solidarity to the victim’s family. In default of payment, each person must serve a 25-year prison term, without being exempted from the payment of this amount after release.

Régine Habonimana, as for her, was sentenced to two years in prison and fined 100,000 Burundian francs.

On the other hand, Laurent Minani and Béatrice Hatungimana were acquitted, the tribunal finding that the charges against them were not sufficiently established.

According to several people who followed the trial, the ruling of the First Instance Court was favorably received by the local population. Many believe that this judgment responds to the emotion and indignation caused by this case, which had deeply shocked the inhabitants of Matongo district and the surrounding localities.

The desecration of the grave of Divine Akimana and the mutilation of her body had caused a great concern among the population, relaunching the debates on the beliefs related to witchcraft and on the need to severely sanction the attacks on the dignity of the dead.