A Burundian citizen has gone missing after being abducted by intelligence officers. His family, relatives, and human rights organizations are issuing an urgent appeal.
NDUWAMUNGU Jean de Dieu, 49 years old, is originally from Nyatubuyi Hill, Mugamba Commune, Bururi Province. For professional reasons, he had settled in Gitega, residing in the Birohe neighborhood of the provincial capital. He had built a house there and lived with his wife and their four children.
🔶 Profile
NDUWAMUNGU Jean de Dieu is a former career military officer, holding the rank of Adjutant, and was assigned to the 3rd Commando Battalion based in Gitega.
In 2015, he was arrested and imprisoned, accused of involvement in attacks on military camps. He was held at Gitega Central Prison. After a lengthy judicial process, he was acquitted due to lack of evidence and released in 2021.
Upon his release, he was not reinstated in the army and was officially dismissed. Since then, he had been living a civilian life, supporting himself through private activities.
🔶 Circumstances of the abduction
The abduction occurred on Thursday, February 20, 2025.
That day, NDUWAMUNGU Jean de Dieu was planning to travel to Bujumbura to meet a relative arriving from abroad at Melchior NDADAYE International Airport. He had rented a vehicle in Gitega for this trip.
Between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m., as he left Gitega heading toward Bujumbura, he was intercepted near the BRARUDI beverage depot in Gitega by intelligence officers who were reportedly waiting for him. Eyewitnesses report that he was forcibly detained and taken away.
Since this arrest, he has been held in an unknown location.
Later that evening, around 8:30 p.m., intelligence officers arrived at his home in a white double-cabin vehicle, with no visible license plates, carrying four uniformed officers. They conducted a thorough search of the house, taking nothing, and then departed with NDUWAMUNGU Jean de Dieu.
🔶 Concern and calls for action
Since these events, no official information has been provided regarding his location or condition. His family, friends, and associates have made repeated inquiries, including with intelligence services in Gitega, but these have been denied, heightening fears for his safety.
Those searching for him are appealing to the Burundi National Police (@Burundi_Police) to provide clear information about:
● His current location,
● His health and condition.
The organization King Umurundi Freedom also urges the National Independent Human Rights Commission (CNIDH) to closely monitor this case and investigate the abduction of NDUWAMUNGU Jean de Dieu, which occurred on February 20, 2025.