The councilor in charge of administration and social affairs of the Rugombo district, in Cibitoke province (northwest Burundi) is imprisoned in the cell of the provincial police station for having celebrated, as a civil registrar, a marriage in a reception hall, with one of the bride and groom dressed as a karateka. A magistrate evokes an abusive arrest, the civil code being silent on this case. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Patrick Icoyitungiye allowed himself to preside over the marriage ceremonies in a hotel located in the town center of Cibitoke province.

Despite having skills to replace the district administrator in his absence as a civil registrar, he is accused of having sinned against both the Burundian culture and the law.

Patrick Icoyitungiye’s act angered residents who spoke of « a serious breach, especially since the groom was dressed in karate uniform and was always punching his fists as if he were demonstrating ».

A Burundian civil code professional based in this province of northwestern Burundi said that « a marriage celebrated outside the civil registry offices has no legal force and must be annulled ».

An administration authority said that advice had been given to his colleague many times not to celebrate the marriage, to no avail.

The head of the office in charge of political and socio-cultural issues in the office of President Évariste Ndayishimiye, Jean Claude Karerwa Ndenzako, also denounced the act on social media, referring to a ceremony that denigrates values ​​of the Burundian culture.

But for his part, the concerned person persists and signs and denies having violated the law by stating that no provision of the code of persons and family specifies the place where a marriage must be celebrated, as well as the type of outfit that the bride and groom must wear.

The governor of Cibitoke Carême Bizoza says he is leaving room for justice to take up this case by indicating that « for the respect of the culture and norms of the Burundian society, this marriage should not have taken place, especially since the husband was in karate gear ».

Nevertheless, a magistrate speaks of wrongful arrest because the civil code says nothing about this case and believes that the district councilor should be released unconditionally.

The civil marriage in question was celebrated on September 28. The arrest of the official took place two days later.