A Burundian human rights organization has denounced the brutal killing of six residents in Gasarara, a village in Nyabiraba commune in Bujumbura province, where a mob attacked and murdered people accused of practicing witchcraft. The incident has reignited national debate over mob justice and public distrust in the country’s legal system.
The attack occurred earlier this week when a group of armed young men reportedly stormed several homes, forcibly dragged out around ten residents, and subjected them to beatings, stoning, and in some cases, death by fire. According to local officials, six people were killed, including two who were burned alive. One other victim sustained serious injuries and remains hospitalized. Police at the scene were able to rescue three individuals, although two later succumbed to their injuries.
“This is nothing short of an extrajudicial massacre,” said Vianney Ndayisaba, the national coordinator of ALUCHOTO, an association for the fight against extrajudicial crimes, in an interview with local radio station Bonesha FM. “It reflects the dangerous breakdown of trust in the justice system. In Burundi, no one has the legal right to kill, no matter the accusation.”
The violence reportedly erupted after the sudden death of a Catholic church worker in the village, followed soon after by another parishioner falling ill under unexplained circumstances. The events triggered suspicion among local residents, who began accusing several people of using witchcraft to harm others.
On Tuesday, Minister of the Interior and Public Security Martin Niteretse and then-Bujumbura Governor Désiré Nsengiyumva visited the village to assess the situation. In a public statement, Nsengiyumva condemned the killings as “an unacceptable act of mob justice” and confirmed that twelve suspects had been arrested, with others still being sought.
“A country governed by the rule of law cannot accept such horrors,” Nsengiyumva told BBC Gahuza on Thursday, adding that a public hearing would be held on Friday to ensure transparency and reassure the public that justice will be served.
The killings have deeply unsettled residents in surrounding communities. According to local authorities, some villagers have gone into hiding, fearing they could be the next targets of suspicion. While additional security measures have been introduced in the area, including planned meetings with local leaders and community forums, tension remains high.
Ndayisaba warned that if authorities fail to act decisively, incidents of vigilante justice could become more frequent.
“People no longer believe that the justice system will punish those suspected of spiritual crimes,” he said. “So they take matters into their own hands. It’s a dangerous path.”
He also urged the Burundian government to establish clear legal procedures for dealing with witchcraft allegations—cases that often sit in a gray area between belief, fear, and the law.
“You cannot kill someone based on rumors or superstition,” he said. “If someone is suspected of wrongdoing—whether due to strange deaths or mysterious items found in their home—there needs to be a lawful process. Mob executions are not justice.”
The ex-provincial leader echoed those sentiments, emphasizing that real accountability is essential to restoring trust in public institutions.
“When people see that those who commit these crimes are punished, we can begin to break the cycle,” he said.
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