Two people accused of witchcraft killed in western Burundi

Cibitoke Province Office

Felix Ntukamazina and Onesphore Marondereye were killed in the evening of 8 January in Mageyo area, Butahana district, Mabayi Municipality in Cibitoke north-western province. Local sources reported that the perpetrators of the double crime were armed with clubs and machetes.

Masabarakiza Pascal, Administrator of Mabayi Commune admits that that crime was committed. He says that victims were accused by their neighbors of being responsible for the death of a woman living in the locality who had just died of an acute illness.

Masabarakiza calms the population and asked them to end the bad habit of taking justice into their own hands. “People should respect the law. Witchcraft is not an offense punishable by Burundian law, “he says.

The administrator of Mabayi says that investigations are under way to identify the perpetrators of this double crime.