Burundi : Bruce Sebanza buried without autopsy, circumstances of his death at the ADB remain unclear

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, October 22, 2026 — Bruce Sebanza, an employee of the Burundi Development Agency (ADB), died on October 13, 2026, at the agency’s headquarters in Bujumbura. He was buried on Wednesday, October 21, without an autopsy being publicly announced. Many observers are questioning the circumstances of his death and demanding a full investigation. The National Independent Human Rights Commission (CNIDH) visited the ADB to investigate and has called for an inquiry.

During a mass held Wednesday at St. Mark’s Anglican Church in Ngagara, north of Bujumbura, Burundi’s commercial capital, the deceased’s mother denounced what she considered “barbaric torture.”

“No one can lack enemies, but Bruce was very loved,” she told the congregation. She also praised her son’s professionalism and reliability.

“At work, he was professional. His colleagues know this. He was very reliable,” she stated, before adding, “Bruce is finally dead… Bruce suffered barbaric torture, I would say.”

A body discovered at Kamenge Military Hospital

According to several relatives of the Sebanza family, members went to Kamenge Military Hospital, located in northern Bujumbura, just a few meters from the ADB offices, on Tuesday, October 13, around 1 p.m., after receiving a call from an unidentified caller.

They claim that Bruce Sebanza’s body was transported to the hospital in a Burundian government pickup truck.

“It was a government pickup truck that brought his body to Kamenge Military Hospital. He was undressed. His pants and shirt were next to him. He was wearing a very dirty and bloodstained singlet and underwear,” said a family member who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals.

Another relative stated that the body was still warm when he touched the deceased’s fingers.”

“When I touched his retracted fingers, I felt that his body was still warm. His cheeks had deep abrasions, like those of someone who had been dragged along the ground,” he testified.

According to another account reported by relatives, a staff member present at the morgue mentioned physical marks that could correspond to constriction.

“This body shows physical marks that indicate possible constriction, perhaps by a rope,” he reportedly whispered to another person.

These accounts could not be independently verified. No forensic findings establishing the cause of death have been made available to SOS Médias Burundi.

Questions about the deceased’s final hours

According to information gathered by SOS Médias Burundi, the events preceding Bruce Sebanza’s death began on the night of Monday, October 12, to Tuesday, October 13, at the ADB office in Bujumbura.

Witnesses claim to have heard cries for help during the night. According to their accounts, the Director General of the ADB, Révérien Nizigiyimana, arrived at the scene around 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 13.

Around 7:30 a.m., again according to these accounts, Révérien Nizigiyimana contacted an official from the National Intelligence Service (SNR). This official came to retrieve Bruce Sebanza and brought him back to the ADB approximately an hour and a half later.

Bruce Sebanza died on the ADB premises on Tuesday, October 13, according to information gathered by SOS Médias Burundi. The exact circumstances of his death remain to be determined.

To revisit the testimonies concerning the events of that night and the role of those in charge present, read our previous article:

A former cellmate describes him as a peaceful man.

Bruce Sebanza was held at Bujumbura Central Prison, known as Mpimba, last year. A former prisoner who knew him during that time described him as a peaceful man who had no problems with any other inmates.

“Bruce was a very peaceful man. He had no problems with anyone during his time at Mpimba,” he told SOS Médias Burundi.

His relatives dispute the version of a return to the ADB.

Information released after Bruce Sebanza’s death suggested that he had sought to return to the ADB.

His family disputes this version of events.

“Bruce knew he could no longer return to the ADB. Last year, while he was detained, the ADB terminated his contract after six months,” claims a family member.

Questions surrounding the death certificate

The official death certificate for Bruce Sebanza names Révérien Nizigiyimana, the ADB’s Director General, as the person who reported the death. The document states that the death occurred “at home (within the ADB compound),” whereas the deceased resided in another part of Bujumbura.

This wording raises questions about the circumstances under which the certificate was issued and the information used to draft it. The mere mention of the Director General’s name as the person who reported the death does not, in itself, constitute proof of responsibility for the death.

For more details on the document and the questions it raises, read our article :

Calls for investigations and clarification

Several observers believe an autopsy should have been performed before Bruce Sebanza’s burial. Since the deceased was buried on Wednesday, October 21, they are calling on the relevant authorities to shed light on the circumstances of his death and determine what forensic investigations are still possible.

The National Independent Human Rights Commission (CNIDH) visited the ADB offices and requested that investigations be opened.

“Even worse, the death certificate indicates death at home, whereas the death occurred on the ADB premises. This is a blatant contradiction, especially since the authorities themselves acknowledge that he died on the institution’s premises. The investigations should be very straightforward,” an observer stated.

To date, no summons has been publicly announced for those implicated in this case. The circumstances of the death, potential responsibilities, and the follow-up to requests for an investigation remain unclear.

…….

Bruce Sebanza, an official with the Burundi Development Agency (ADB), was buried on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, without an autopsy being publicly announced. The circumstances of his death, which occurred on the agency’s premises in Bujumbura, remain unclear (DR/SOS Médias Burundi)