Burundi has been shaken by another tragedy rooted in ancient superstition with modern brutality. Six people accused of practising witchcraft were murdered on Monday by youths believed to be members of the ruling party’s notorious youth wing, the Imbonerakure.
The killings occurred in Gasarara Hill, a village just 10 kilometres east of Bujumbura, Burundi’s economic capital. Witnesses described a night of terror as the mob attacked several homes with rage and weapons.
“Six people were killed, including two who were burned alive,” a local official said. “The others were beaten to death with clubs or stoned with heavy rocks. It was an act of shocking and indescribable brutality.”
Victims Burned and Beaten as Police Arrive Late
The attackers reportedly stormed the homes of about ten individuals accused of witchcraft. By the time police arrived, six were already dead. Three others narrowly escaped with their lives, rescued at the last minute by security operatives.
The Imbonerakure — the youth wing of Burundi’s ruling party — has long been associated with human rights violations. The UN and various rights groups have called it a militia disguised as a political organisation.
Videos of the attacks began circulating online the next day. While most remain unverified, two witnesses confirmed that some clips showed the real attackers and scenes of the violence.
Arrests Made Amid Deep-Rooted Beliefs
Desire Nsengiyumva, the governor of Bujumbura province, confirmed the arrest of 12 suspects. He described the killings as “unacceptable mob justice,” adding that the violence was driven by rumours.
Locals had reportedly blamed recent mysterious deaths in the village on witchcraft, even though there was no proof. Such beliefs are common in Burundi, where Christianity and deep-rooted traditional superstitions coexist.
Just last year, the Supreme Court sentenced a former prime minister to life in prison for allegedly using witchcraft in a plot against the president. That verdict came with a series of other charges, including economic sabotage and illicit enrichment.
Though the country has made constitutional progress, the brutal killings in Gasarara reveal how quickly mob fear can override justice.
And in this case, six people paid for that fear — with their lives.
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