A significant amount of money was recently withdrawn from his bank account by force.
Does the CNDD-FDD government intend to confiscate this businessman’s assets, or is it seeking to ruin him? How did the situation reach the point where the state decided to seize part of his fortune?
More than 33 billion Burundian francs were recently withdrawn from WAKENYA’s account under circumstances that some consider unlawful or imposed by force. Many see this as a sign of an attempt to confiscate or impoverish the businessman.
It should be recalled that Aloys NTAKARUTIMANA, known as WAKENYA, has been held at Mpimba Central Prison in Bujumbura since his arrest by intelligence services on March 24, 2026. A former member of parliament, he also served as president of FEBABU (Burundi Basketball Federation).
In summary, the businessman was arrested after it emerged that he had invested, alongside other investors, in SYNERGY VENTURES, a company based in Mauritius in which he is a shareholder. The company subsequently acquired a brewery located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the Bukavu region, an area that was then under the control of the M23 movement, which opposes the Congolese government.
It should be emphasized that WAKENYA, as a businessman, had joined forces with other investors as part of what was presented as a purely commercial transaction aimed at acquiring the brewery. However, this initiative allegedly did not sit well with the CNDD-FDD government, which has repeatedly accused M23 and supported the DRC’s efforts against the movement. It is in this context that he was reportedly arrested and imprisoned.
Following his arrest, WAKENYA was charged with serious offenses, including:
endangering state security;
treason;
providing financial support to armed groups or groups considered terrorist organizations.
No one currently knows what could lead to his release. However, what is particularly drawing attention among many observers is what appears to be the beginning of an operation aimed at stripping him of his assets.
Why the concern?
WAKENYA owns SOVAGRO-SU, a company that works with BRARUDI, supplying it with certain products and equipment required for its operations.
Following his imprisonment, authorities reportedly stated that SOVAGRO had failed to pay certain taxes owed to the OBR (Burundi Revenue Authority). The company holds an account at CRDB Bank.
Shortly afterward, an order was allegedly issued to withdraw funds from this bank account. As a result, the sum of 33,491,226,260 Burundian francs was reportedly withdrawn on June 19, 2026, according to documents in our possession that we do not wish to publish in order to protect our sources.
However, according to some information, the company accused of owing these taxes may not actually be SOVAGRO. Furthermore, the company concerned reportedly does not include WAKENYA’s name or financial interests among its shareholders.
At this stage, it remains difficult to understand why CNDD-FDD authorities would have authorized the withdrawal of such a substantial amount from WAKENYA’s bank account. The situation is fueling suspicions among those who believe that an attempt may be underway to seize his assets.
Today, many people struggle to understand why WAKENYA was imprisoned for investing abroad and why he is accused of supporting terrorist groups, when a businessman is generally free to develop commercial activities and investments beyond his country’s borders.
On this basis, some are calling on the CNDD-FDD authorities to release the businessman, whose health is reportedly continuing to deteriorate while he remains in detention.