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Tragedy in Muyinga : a policewoman shoots dead her neighbor after an argument

Kinyota village, in the district and province of Muyinga (northeastern Burundi), is in shock after the tragedy that claimed the life of Eugénie Mukawera, a mother of four children. On Thursday evening, March 20, her neighbor, Adidja, a policewoman on duty, shot her dead at her home after an earlier altercation. This crime has raised renewed questions about the regulation of weapons possession by law enforcement and the management of interpersonal conflicts involving uniformed officers.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

While police violence against civilians is not unfortunately uncommon in Burundi, it is exceptional for a female police officer to be implicated in such an act. This case therefore raises specific questions about the training, supervision, and psychological state of PNB (Burundi National Police) officers.

A quarrel turns into murder

According to witnesses gathered at the scene, Eugénie Mukawera and Adidja had spent several hours together drinking in a local cabaret.

« They were friends, but that evening, something got out of hand between them, » said a neighbor who requested anonymity.

Around 8 p.m., the two women went home together, but an argument broke out on the way. According to some sources, the dispute was linked to an extramarital affair between the victim and the policewoman’s partner. After this heated argument, Adidja returned home, visibly furious.

A few minutes later, she returned, armed with a Kalashnikov. She knocked on Mukawera’s door. Initially reluctant, her children finally opened the door. « She asked where our mother was. Mom came out, and everything happened very quickly. » « We heard two shots and she fell on the ground, » one of the victim’s children testified, in tears.

The murderer’s departure and surrender

After shooting her neighbor, Adidja left the scene and went directly to the Muyinga police station, where she handed over her weapon and admitted to her crime.

The news of the murder sparked intense anger among the population. Some furious residents considered taking justice into their own hands. « This is treason; a police officer who was supposed to protect the population killed a mother in front of her children. We demand an immediate trial and an exemplary sentence, » said an outraged resident of Kinyota.

A debate on police weapon management

This tragedy calls into question the regulations governing the carrying of weapons by police officers while off duty. According to Order n°215/891 of July 9, 2009, establishing the Code of Ethics of the Burundi National Police, the use of firearms is strictly regulated. However, no clear provision specifies whether officers must return their weapons at the end of their shift.

Faced with this legal uncertainty, residents of Muyinga are calling for urgent reform. « Police officers should not take their weapons home. This is not the first time that a personal conflict has escalated because of this. We want strict measures, » pleads a representative of the local security committee.

A rare but alarming occurrence

While police abuses have been reported several times in Burundi, the fact that a female police officer is implicated in intentional homicide is an unusual phenomenon.

« These types of cases generally involve male law enforcement officers. « Seeing a female police officer commit such a violent murder raises questions about the training and psychological control of officers, regardless of their gender, » analyzes a public security expert.

Others believe this event reveals a broader problem of conflict management and abuse of power within the police.

« The troubling element in this case is that the murder weapon was an assault rifle. Why would a female police officer have a Kalashnikov at home off-duty? There is a dangerous regulatory vacuum that urgently needs to be filled, » adds a lawyer specialized in criminal law.

Towards a reform to restore trust?

The case is now in the hands of the courts, and the public expects a firm response from the authorities. Some experts believe that the police reform is essential.

« This tragedy highlights a deeper problem : the management of conflicts by law enforcement and their ethical training. « We must not only review the issue of carrying weapons, but also strengthen discipline and psychological support for police officers, » says a sociologist specialized in public security issues.

As the trial approaches, tensions remain high in Muyinga. The victim’s family hopes for justice, while the shaken population awaits concrete measures to ensure greater security in their community.

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A parade of female police officers in a stadium in Ruyigi, eastern Burundi, on the sidelines of the celebration of Women’s Rights Day, DR