Buried on June 1, 2026, Seif Ntakamurenga died the previous day after several days of agony. According to corroborating sources, the 45-year-old man had been intercepted on the night of May 27 by Imbonerakure before being taken, together with his partner, to the Buterere wastewater treatment plant. Both were allegedly raped there before Seif was violently beaten and left for dead. (Le Mandat)
According to information gathered by Le Mandat, the events date back to the night of Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Buterere, a zone of Ntahangwa commune in Bujumbura province. That night, Seif Ntakamurenga and his partner fell into the hands of a group of Imbonerakure — members of the youth league of the ruling party, CNDD-FDD — allegedly led, according to our sources, by a man identified as Elie. The tragedy unfolded just a few meters from the victim’s home.
An interception at the entrance to his home
It was around 11 p.m. when Seif Ntakamurenga and his partner were about to enter the gate of Seif’s home, located on the main road of Buterere I. It was at that moment, our sources say, that Elie and the Imbonerakure accompanying him stopped them and asked them to produce their identity cards.
Seif then explained that they could go inside the house to fetch the requested documents. But, according to the same sources, that request was refused. Elie then ordered that they be taken to the Buterere wastewater treatment plant, commonly known as “Ku ma bassin,” a reference to the large basins that collect wastewater from several neighborhoods of Bujumbura.
Raped, then separated
Still according to our sources, Seif Ntakamurenga and his partner were both raped by the Imbonerakure after arriving at the site.
The woman was later released. Seif, however, was violently beaten until he could no longer move. Believing him to be dead, his attackers left the scene, our sources say.
Several days of agony
But Seif Ntakamurenga regained consciousness. In critical condition, he managed to make his way back home, where his health deteriorated day by day.
According to neighbors, the downtown Bujumbura barber complained of intense pain as early as Thursday and could barely eat. His body also bore several traces of blows, including marks from club beatings as well as bruises.
On Sunday, with the help of neighbors and friends, he managed to go to his grandmother’s house, still in Buterere, in an effort to better organize his medical care. But he died during the night of that same Sunday, May 31, into Monday, June 1, 2026.
Medical examinations of the body were later ordered by the police officer handling the case. They were carried out at Prince Regent Charles Hospital. According to sources close to the case, the examinations reportedly concluded that Seif Ntakamurenga died from injuries caused by the beating.
A suspect transferred to Mpimba
After spending several days in the holding cells of Buterere zone, Elie, presented as the head of the Imbonerakure in the area, was later transferred to Mpimba Central Prison.
According to our sources, other Imbonerakure named in the case had still not been found at the time this article was written.
