Bubanza : two oil palm trees at the heart of a murder and a wave of reprisals

SOS Médias Burundi

Bubanza, July 28, 2026 – A family dispute over the sharing of two oil palm trees turned tragic in the district of Bubanza, in Bujumbura province, western Burundi. A man was killed with a machete during an altercation with his cousin. Following the alleged murder, a relative of the victim carried out acts of reprisal, setting fire to houses and destroying several properties. Two people have been arrested.

The tragedy occurred on the evening of Sunday, July 26, 2026, in the Bumba sub-village, Dondi village, Musigati zone, in the district of Bubanza, Bujumbura province.

According to administrative and police sources, Joseph Nizeyimana, a father of one child, was killed after being struck in the neck with a machete. The main suspect is his 17-year-old cousin, Christophe Tuyisenge.

According to information gathered at the scene, the two cousins ​​had been in conflict for some time over the division of two oil palm trees. The tension reportedly reached its peak around 9:00 p.m. when the alleged suspect, described as a member of the CNDD-FDD youth league (Imbonerakure) in Dondi village, attacked his cousin with a machete. The victim died at the scene.

After the attack, the alleged suspect reportedly fled before being found hiding at the local health center. He was arrested by the police and taken to the Musigati police station, where an investigation is underway.

The alleged murder subsequently sparked acts of revenge. According to local authorities, the victim’s younger brother allegedly set fire to two houses belonging to the suspect’s family. The flames destroyed the homes and their contents, including food, clothing, and livestock.

Banana groves and oil palm plantations were also reportedly damaged in the retaliatory attacks.

The suspected perpetrator of these acts of destruction was arrested and detained at the Musigati police station.

Bujumbura province, located in western Burundi, is a predominantly agricultural region. Oil palm cultivation plays a significant role in the livelihoods of many households, sometimes making land and plantation management a source of family tension.

Faced with this escalation of violence, the local administration is calling on the population to remain calm and exercise restraint. It urges residents not to take the law into their own hands and reminds them that all disputes must be resolved through legal channels.

An investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the alleged murder and the subsequent acts of reprisal.