Cibitoke : a pregnant woman found murdered, rape suspected

SOS Médias Burundi

Cibitoke, June 29, 2026 – On June 27, police arrested the brother of the main suspect in the murder of Annonciate Niyonzima, a pregnant woman found dead, completely naked, in a bush in Gitohera village, in the Murwi zone of ​​Cibitoke district, Bujumbura province, in northwestern Burundi. The main suspect, described as the victim’s partner, remains at large.

According to initial findings, authorities are focusing on the theory of rape followed by homicide. The exact circumstances of the crime are still under investigation.

The tragedy dates back to June 21, 2026. According to relatives of the victim, Annonciate Niyonzima left her home after receiving a call from a man she believed to be her partner. She had not been heard from since that meeting. Her body was finally discovered a few hours later in a bush.

Initial findings at the scene revealed that the victim was completely naked and had severe head injuries, suggesting she had been brutally beaten before succumbing to her wounds.

Authorities have not yet released the identity of the main suspect or specified the role his brother, currently in custody, may have played in the case. The investigation is ongoing to locate the fugitive and determine individual responsibilities.

The deceased’s relatives are denouncing the slow pace of the investigation and are demanding that all perpetrators, accomplices, and any potential accomplices be swiftly identified, arrested, and brought to justice. They are also demanding a full investigation into this crime.

This case has reignited concerns about the recent surge in gruesome discoveries in Bujumbura province, particularly in the Cibitoke district, where several bodies have been found in recent months under often unclear circumstances.

Recently, the Catholic bishops of Burundi expressed their deep concern about the increasing number of murders, enforced disappearances, and abandoned bodies found in various parts of the country. In their message issued after their plenary assembly, they called on the authorities to strengthen the protection of citizens, combat impunity, and bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.

The judicial investigation is ongoing to shed light on this case and to find the main suspect, who remains at large.