MANDELA Issa, a 35-year-old Burundian national, was reportedly abducted on August 11, 2026, on Tanzanian territory. Since his presumed arrest, his family and relatives have had no news of him. His whereabouts and the reasons for his alleged abduction remain unknown.
MANDELA Issa is originally from Bugoma Hill, Ruzo Zone, Butihinda Commune, Buhumuza Province. Politically, he is known as a former member of the Congress for National Liberty (CNL) and was close to MP Agathon Rwasa. He is no longer reportedly involved in political activities. In his daily life, he is self-employed. He is married and has four children.
Circumstances of the Disappearance
On August 11, 2026, MANDELA Issa left his home and travelled to Bambo, Tanzania, a locality situated very close to the Burundian border, opposite Gikomero Hill. According to information gathered, someone had contacted him by telephone and asked to meet him there.
Upon arriving in Bambo, MANDELA Issa went to the IMANI bar-restaurant, where he reportedly waited for the person with whom he had been communicating by phone.
At around 8:30 a.m., a white double-cab pickup vehicle, with no visible license plate, reportedly arrived at the location. Five men in civilian clothing, speaking Swahili, reportedly got out of the vehicle and approached MANDELA Issa while he was sitting on a motorcycle.
According to witnesses, the men allegedly beat him severely, before handcuffing him and forcing him into the vehicle. He was reportedly taken away while bleeding heavily.
Tanzanian nationals who were present at the scene reportedly attempted to ask the men why MANDELA Issa was being arrested. The men allegedly pulled out pistols and threatened those who attempted to intervene, forcing them to keep their distance.
Since the incident, MANDELA Issa has remained unaccounted for and his family has received no further information about him. He is not answering his phone, and, to our knowledge, no official information has been provided regarding his place of detention or the reasons for his presumed arrest.
Call to the Authorities
In response to this situation, residents of Butihinda Commune reportedly contacted the Commune Administrator, DUKUNDANE Carine Belyse, asking her to assist in locating MANDELA Issa and obtaining information from the Tanzanian authorities.
To date, they reportedly have not received a satisfactory response.
The disappearance of MANDELA Issa is causing serious concern among his relatives and residents of the area, particularly because the incident reportedly occurred very close to the Burundian border, in an area where Burundian and Tanzanian communities regularly interact.
King Umurundi Freedom calls on the Burundian authorities, particularly the Administrator of Butihinda Commune, DUKUNDANE Carine Belyse, as well as the Governor of Buhumuza Province, NDARUHEKERE Dénise, to take all necessary measures to establish MANDELA Issa’s whereabouts, determine the circumstances of his arrest, and clarify the reasons for his presumed detention.
We also call on anyone with reliable information concerning his whereabouts or the circumstances of his disappearance to contact our organization via WhatsApp: +33 7 58 27 92 94 or email: contact@kingumurundifreedom.org, in order to help shed light on this case.