A wave of arrests and searches targeting residents of Gishubi Commune, Gitega Province, has caused growing concern among the local population. The individuals targeted are reportedly mostly members of the CNL party who are considered close to Member of Parliament Agathon Rwasa.
According to information received by King Umurundi Freedom (KUF-ASBL), the arrests began on Saturday, 24 October 2026, after members of the Imbonerakure reportedly claimed to have seen armed men passing through Jurwe Hill. Following these reports, the communal administrator, Appolinaire BARYANA, allegedly ordered the arrest of several people and drew up a list of individuals to be apprehended.
Seven people have so far been arrested and are reportedly being held in the communal detention facility. They are:
BAKEVYUMUSAYA Athanase
NSHIMIRIMANA Gérard
NIMBONA Innocent
NSHIMIRIMANA Gilbert
NDAYISHIMIYE Omer
NTAHONDI Cécile
NDAYISABA Remegie
On Saturday, 31 October 2026, the Governor of Gitega Province, Liboire BIGIRIMANA, accompanied by the provincial CNDD-FDD party leader, Georges NSHIMIRIMANA, and other officials, visited Jurwe Hill for a security meeting with residents.
During the meeting, the Governor reportedly stated, in a firm tone, that the individuals concerned had to be arrested. He also allegedly warned that anyone arrested would receive no leniency and that those who attempted to protect or hide them would not be spared.
The Governor reportedly made the following statement:
“These people passed through here. If we work together, I am convinced that we can find them. We do not even know whether they are not currently here. Let them understand that the message is clear and unambiguous: wherever they are and whenever they are found, they will be arrested. Once arrested, they will receive no leniency. Even those who have protected them will not be spared.”
For his part, the provincial CNDD-FDD leader reportedly urged residents to report anyone whose presence or behaviour they considered suspicious, including people they did not know, individuals carrying weapons, and relatives who had previously left the area and recently returned.
He reportedly stated:
“To prevent such situations, we ask everyone to report any person whose behaviour seems suspicious. If there is someone you do not know moving around this locality with a weapon, or one of your children or relatives who had left without you knowing where they were and has now returned, that person is putting you in danger.”
These statements have reportedly increased fear among residents who are not members of the ruling CNDD-FDD party. Some people are said to have fled their homes after learning that a list of individuals to be arrested had allegedly been drawn up.
Residents who spoke to KUF expressed concern that the operation could be an attempt by the CNDD-FDD to intimidate and target people who do not belong to the ruling party, particularly those perceived to be close to Agathon Rwasa.
One resident questioned the circumstances surrounding the alleged sighting of armed men:
“If these were really armed fighters, why did the Imbonerakure not immediately arrest or pursue them? The situation is worrying, especially since none of these Imbonerakure members is able to clearly identify the place where the armed men were reportedly seen.”
To date, residents of Gishubi Commune are calling on the competent authorities to intervene on behalf of those arrested and to secure their release. They maintain that no weapons or material evidence establishing a connection between the detainees and the alleged armed men were reportedly found in their possession.
They denounce what they consider to be the targeting of citizens on the basis of their presumed political affiliation or their alleged links with Member of Parliament Agathon Rwasa.