APRIL 2026
17 bodies discovered across the country
“The right to life and impunity in tatters: a broken system”
Vehicle of the late Gabby Bugaga, Minister of Communication and Media (photo below), in which his body was discovered in a palm plantation
In April 2026, Burundi was the scene of an alarming wave of serious human rights violations, documented by ACAT-Burundi in its latest report. Brutal murders, enforced disappearances, acts of torture and arbitrary arrests have become increasingly frequent, affecting both civilians and public figures, in a climate of near-total impunity.
Among the 17 recorded cases of murder are mutilated victims, hasty burials without investigation, and crimes that have not been prosecuted. The alleged perpetrators, often linked to the security forces or the Imbonerakure militia, operate amidst a worrying institutional indifference.
The victims also include Gabby Bugaga, Minister of Communication and Media. On 16 April 2026, his lifeless body was discovered by residents of Kivoga Hill, in the Rubirizi area of Mutimbuzi commune, in Bujumbura province, inside his vehicle in a palm plantation, about ten metres from the Bujumbura-Bubanza Road, which runs for several kilometres through hundreds of hectares of oil palms, not far from the Maranatha High School in Kivoga. According to witnesses, her body bore a large wound on her swollen face; there was no trace of blood inside the vehicle or on her clothes, with the exception of two small drops on her knickers.
This report reveals a chilling reality: human life seems to have lost all legal value, and impunity fuels the repetition of these crimes. Discover the testimonies, analyses and recommendations from ACAT-Burundi to break this cycle of violence and injustice.
To understand the scale of the crisis and take action for justice, read the full report here:
