The incident took place on the night of Sunday to Monday in the locality of Rusiga. It is in the district of Rugombo in the province of Cibitoke (northwest Burundi). The two members of the youth league of the CNDD-FDD were caught in possession of five bags of mangoes stolen from fields of local farmers. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The two Imbonerakure were seriously beaten up by owners of mango fields who were standing guard. Residents told SOS Médias Burundi that « thefts in crop fields, households and shops have become commonplace » recently.

« This situation has caught our attention because the Imbonerakure are constantly carrying out night patrols. Either they themselves are engaging in this banditry or individuals who collaborate with them. Hence, we thought it was a good idea to keep watch during the night, » testify men from Rusiga.

Armed with clubs, machetes, pruning hooks and other bladed weapons, several men from Rusiga attacked two Imbonerakure whom they caught in a field, in possession of five bags of mangoes.

« Seriously beaten up, the two alleged bandits were saved by the local police and their peers who took them directly to a local health facility where they are receiving intensive care, » witnesses told SOS Médias Burundi.

Rugombo administrator Gilbert Manirakiza acknowledged the facts while not wanting to talk about the Imbonerakure. He calls on his subjects to avoid mob justice.

In different provinces of the small East African nation, there have been reports in recent days of a resurgence of banditry in households and crop fields. Extreme poverty, compounded by unemployment, is the main cause, with thieves being mostly young people.