Cibitoke : a boy accused of killing his father with a machete found hiding in Mugina

SOS Médias Burundi

Cibitoke, June 30, 2026 – The young man wanted by police after the murder of his father in Munyika 2 village, in the Rugombo zone of ​​Cibitoke district, Bujumbura province, western Burundi, has been found in district. According to police sources, he was hiding at the home of relatives before being arrested by security forces.

He is Fidèle Yamuremye, son of the late Fabien Manirakiza, who was killed on June 12, 2026, at his home in particularly violent circumstances. The suspect was apprehended on June 29, 2026, during a police operation.

A suspect found at his uncle’s house

According to information gathered on site, the young man was hiding at his uncle’s house in Mugina district after fleeing following the crime. Security services launched a search immediately after the discovery of his father’s murder.

According to local administrative sources, Fidèle Yamuremye reportedly confessed to the crime during his interrogation and told investigators where the machete used to commit the crime was hidden. The weapon was allegedly found hidden in a latrine. However, this information has not been officially confirmed by the police.

Persistent family tensions

According to several residents of the Munyika neighborhood, conflicts had long existed within the Manirakiza family, particularly concerning the management of income from artisanal gold mining. The victim, Fabien Manirakiza, worked as a gold panner and was reportedly in frequent disagreements with some members of his household.

Local sources report recurring tensions between the father, his wife, and their son over money earned from gold mining. SOS Médias Burundi was unable to independently verify these allegations.

A family now in police custody

Following the murder, the victim’s wife was arrested as part of the investigation. With the son’s arrest, the main members of the family are now being held in Cibitoke district, Bujumbura province, in western Burundi.

According to some local sources, the suspect is a member of the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of the ruling CNDD-FDD party. He is reportedly 19 years old according to official records, although relatives previously stated that he was 16 based on his identity card.

A region marked by deadly violence

The Cibitoke region is regularly cited among the areas affected by deadly violence and the discovery of bodies. Civil society organizations have been raising the alarm for several years about the deteriorating security situation in this part of western Burundi.

In a recent statement, the Catholic bishops of Burundi expressed their concern about the increasing number of assassinations, enforced disappearances, and other human rights violations. They called on the authorities to strengthen security, conduct independent investigations, and combat impunity.

The investigation is ongoing to determine the exact circumstances of Fabien Manirakiza’s murder and the responsibilities of those involved.