Jean-Marie Ntezimana, born in 1989 on Ruyaga Hill, in Kanyosha Commune, Bujumbura Province, was recently residing in Kamesa, in the upper part of the Musaga neighborhood, in Bujumbura City. A tailor by profession, he is a member of the National Congress for Liberty (Congrès national pour la liberté – CNL), a political party.
On Friday, August 2, 2024, Jean-Marie Ntezimana attended a funeral in Mpanda. On his way back, while in downtown Bujumbura near a location known as “Le Parisien,” he was allegedly apprehended by agents of the National Intelligence Service (Service national de renseignement – SNR), two of whom were wearing police uniforms.
According to information gathered, the agents allegedly forced him into a white, double-cab pickup truck with tinted windows before taking him to an unknown destination.
Since the incident, his phone has remained unreachable, and his relatives have had no information about his whereabouts. The circumstances of his alleged abduction raise serious concerns about his safety and physical integrity.
King Umurundi Freedom (KUF-ASBL) calls on the relevant authorities and security services to take all necessary measures without delay to locate Jean-Marie Ntezimana, establish the circumstances of his disappearance, and guarantee his safety.
KUF-ASBL also calls on the National Independent Human Rights Commission (Commission nationale indépendante des droits de l’homme – CNIDH) to intervene urgently to follow up on this case, help establish the facts, and ensure that his family is informed of his fate and any possible place of detention.
Any disappearance following an alleged arrest requires urgent clarification. The authorities must shed full light on the fate of Jean-Marie Ntezimana.