A tragic incident occurred in Burundi where six people were accused of practicing witchcraft by their community, resulting in them being burned alive, stoned, and beaten to death by a local militia in the Buzumbura province. According to a local official and eyewitnesses on July 2, 2025, the violence was carried out by members of the powerful youth movement known as ‘Imbonerakure,’ linked to the ruling party.
The United Nations and human rights organizations have labeled the Imbonerakure as ‘paramilitary.’ A local administrator from the Gasarara hill area, about 10 kilometers from Burundi’s economic capital, described how a group of young Imbonerakure stormed around ten homes late Monday evening, attacking those accused of witchcraft.
“Six people were killed; two were burned alive. The rest were either beaten or stoned to death with large rocks thrown at their heads. It was horrifying—an unspeakable brutality,” the official added.
Unverified videos of the attacks exist, but two witnesses confirmed their authenticity and identified the attackers as Imbonerakure members. Three more individuals were also targeted and nearly killed before being rescued by security forces.
Human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch have previously accused the Imbonerakure of murders and torture under President Pierre Nkurunziza’s rule. The governor of Buzumbura province, Desire Nsengiyumva, confirmed the events and justified the delayed police response due to difficult access to the area. He condemned the vigilante justice, noting that the victims had been wrongly blamed for unexplained deaths in the region.
Twelve suspects have been arrested in connection with the killings. In Burundi, a predominantly Christian country where traditional beliefs remain deeply rooted, such tragedies are not uncommon, as many locals attribute mysterious deaths to witchcraft.