Musenyi : outing to feed goats ends with the death of a young refugee

SOS Médias Burundi

Musenyi, August 23, 2026 — The refugee community at the Musenyi site, in Musongati district, Burunga province, in southeastern Burundi, is mourning the discovery of the lifeless body of a young man identified as Jibu Ushindi, a refugee and resident of Ward 27, Cell A.

The young man’s body was discovered on August 21 in the river commonly known as Mukazi, located near the Musenyi refugee site. The exact circumstances of his death remain unknown at this time.

According to initial information gathered from people close to the victim, Jibu Ushindi had gone to the river to feed his family’s goats. After this activity, the young man reportedly decided to bathe in the river.

It was while he was in the water that the tragedy reportedly occurred. However, the available information does not yet allow for a precise determination of the circumstances surrounding his death.

The news of his death has deeply shaken the residents of Ward 27, as well as the entire Musenyi refugee community. Many residents gathered around the victim’s family and loved ones in an atmosphere marked by sadness and incomprehension.

Aliette, a refugee living at the site and Jibu’s neighbor, shared her thoughts :

“We are deeply saddened by this loss. Jibu was still a young man, and no one expected such news. We demand that the circumstances of his death be clearly established so that his family can understand what truly happened. This tragedy also reminds us of the dangers that some rivers can pose, especially when one goes there for daily activities.”

For now, the community is awaiting more information on the precise circumstances of his death. The disappearance of Jibu Ushindi has left his family and loved ones grieving, while the residents of the Musenyi camp remain in shock over this tragedy in the Mukazi River.

The Musenyi camp hosts some 22,000 Congolese refugees who fled violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.