Mwaro : an influential UPRONA member killed; his body found buried in a field

SOS Médias Burundi

Mwaro, November 11, 2026 — A man of approximately 65 years of age, known for his influence within the UPRONA party in the Kayokwe zone, has been found dead and buried in a sweet potato field in Kibogoye village, in the Mwaro district of Gitega Province, central Burundi. According to the local village chief, the victim appears to have been tied up before being killed by unidentified individuals. This discovery follows several other instances of people being killed or found dead in the province over the past few months, with more than 100 bodies recorded since the beginning of the year.

The victim, identified as Venant Nyandwi, was discovered on Tuesday, November 10. According to a witness, his body had been buried in the sweet potato field. This was confirmed by Côme Gahungu, the chief of Kibogoye village.

The administrative official stated that Venant Nyandwi was likely bound violently by unidentified individuals on the night of Monday, November 9, while he was returning from a local bar. The exact circumstances of his death and the motives behind the act remain unknown.

According to the village chief, local residents had to exhume the body before transporting it to the morgue at the Kibumbu regional hospital.

Venant Nyandwi was known as an influential member of the UPRONA party in the Kayokwe zone. No suspects have been arrested thus far. Côme Gahungu suggests the possibility of a settling of scores, though he provides no evidence to support this hypothesis.

Residents of Kibogoye are calling for independent investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the death of Venant Nyandwi, to identify those responsible, and to bring them to justice.

More than 100 bodies recorded since January

This discovery comes against a particularly concerning backdrop. Since the beginning of 2026, more than 100 bodies—people who were either killed or found dead—have been recorded in Gitega province, according to a tally by SOS Médias Burundi. Some of these cases remain shrouded in uncertainty, fueling residents’ concerns regarding their own safety.

Activists, as well as local and international human rights organizations, continue to call for independent and credible investigations. They are demanding that the circumstances of these deaths be established, that those responsible be identified, and that the alleged perpetrators be brought to justice.

The recurring nature of these grim discoveries raises urgent questions about the safety of the local population and the effectiveness of judicial investigations. The victims’ families and human rights advocates continue to await answers regarding these deaths, as well as the prosecution of those involved.

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Venant Nyandwi, found dead and buried in a sweet potato field in the Kibogoye village, in the Mwaro district of Gitega province (DR/SOS Médias Burundi)