Corporal HATUNGIMANA Albert, a Burundian soldier with service number HR 19568/56182, died on April 27, 2026, as a result of injuries he allegedly sustained at the Mabanda military camp. Originally from Kirehe hill, Kabarore commune, Kayanza province (now Kayanza commune, Butanyerera province), he was serving at the Mabanda Training Center 2, hosted within the Support Battalion of the 4th Division (Mabanda camp).
According to information gathered, the incident dates back to April 22, 2026, when Corporal HATUNGIMANA went to the Mabanda center to relax. After consuming alcohol, he allegedly entered a shop where an altercation broke out with civilians present, who accused him of having pushed them. In the confusion, the civilians reportedly left the premises without paying for their drinks (four juices), while approximately three kilograms of rice were spilled inside the shop.
Police officers who intervened at the scene arrested him and placed him in detention to allow him to sober up. The following day, April 23, 2026, once sober, he was informed of the damage caused and compensated for the spilled rice as well as the unpaid drinks. He was then released by the police and returned to the military camp, where he was placed in disciplinary detention at the “guard post” (corps de garde).
It was at this point that the situation allegedly escalated. The deputy commander of Mabanda camp, Major MANIRAKIZA Gilbert, nicknamed KIBOGOYE (service number SS1093), is said to have ordered his subordinates to beat him. Corporal HATUNGIMANA was reportedly severely assaulted until he lost consciousness and sustained heavy bleeding.
Due to the deterioration of his condition, he was transferred on April 24, 2026, to the camp infirmary, and later to Makamba Hospital. Despite medical care, he did not survive and died today, April 27, 2026, in the afternoon.
His death has caused strong emotion among his colleagues, who are calling for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding it. They are demanding that Major MANIRAKIZA Gilbert be brought to justice to answer for these actions, stressing that disciplinary sanctions can in no way justify violence leading to the death of a soldier.