Sylvestre Nsanzurwimo nicknamed Kadafi and Fabien Kabuyu (members of the youth league of the CNDD-FDD) almost got killed on Saturday. They had just been caught with bags of tomatoes and bananas stolen in the village of Manege in the district of Murwi (province of Cibitoke, northwest Burundi). Seriously beaten up, they were evacuated to a local health facility. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

It is the inhabitants of Manege who caught the two Imbonerakure, according to witnesses.

« After spotting two thieves, the inhabitants joined forces to catch them. They had already filled bags with tomatoes and bananas », say witnesses.

Angry men and young people from the locality attacked the two members of the youth league of the CNDD-FDD. They beat them up, using batons and sticks.

The concerned people were seriously injured, according to local sources.

« Had it not been for the intervention of the police and the local administration, the two Imbonerakure would have been killed, » witnesses said.

The district administrator of Murwi confirmed the incident. Melchiade Nzokizwanayo, however, specified that the two thieves should not be identified as Imbonerakure.

« They should just be called bandits. They did not go stealing on behalf of the CNDD-FDD, » he insisted.

The two Imbonerakure are receiving treatment in a local health facility.

The district administration calls on residents not to take justice into their own hands at a time when the local population is calling for exemplary sanctions against members of joint security committees who engage in looting in households and crop fields.