Latest news with #Bujumbura
CBS News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
6 people accused of witchcraft killed, 2 of them burned alive, in Burundi, official says: "Unspeakable barbarity"
Six people accused of witchcraft were killed, burned alive, stoned or beaten by a militia in Burundi, a local official told AFP on Wednesday. The official and witnesses, who all asked for anonymity, said the incident happened on Monday after accusations made by members of the ruling party's powerful youth movement, known as the Imbonerakure. The group is described as a militia by the United Nations and rights organizations. "A group of young Imbonerakure entered the homes of about 10 people accused of witchcraft. They then attacked them," according to the official from Gasarara Hill, six miles east of Burundi's economic capital, Bujumbura. "Six people were killed, two of them burned alive. The others were beaten to death with clubs or stoned with large stones thrown at their heads," the official said. "It was horrific, unspeakable barbarity." The official said three further people were also beaten but were ultimately rescued after police intervened. Several unverified videos have circulated on social media since Tuesday. Some of the clips were authenticated to AFP by two witnesses, who also identified the group as the Imbonerakure. Several rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have accused the Imbonerakure of killing and torturing dozens of people, particularly under the authoritarian rule of former president Pierre Nkurunziza, in power from 2005 until 2020. "Imbonerakure members, some of whom are armed, have arrested, ill-treated, and killed suspected opponents, sometimes in collaboration with or with the support of local administrative officials, police, or intelligence agents," according to Human Rights Watch. Bujumbura provincial governor Desire Nsengiyumva said on Tuesday that 12 people had been arrested over the incident. He denounced the "unacceptable mob justice," saying locals had wrongly attributed recent unexplained deaths to the victims. The tiny nation is predominantly Christian, and traditional beliefs are deeply rooted with unexplained deaths often blamed on witchcraft. Only last year, the Supreme Court sentenced a former prime minister to life imprisonment for charges "including using witchcraft to threaten the president's life, destabilizing the economy and illegal enrichment." Belief in witchcraft remains common in many rural communities along the west African coast, and elsewhere in the continent. Earlier this year, Amnesty International said hundreds of people suspected of witchcraft in Ghana face rampant human rights abuses including murder. In February, two men in Zambia were charged with practicing witchcraft and possessing charms intended to harm the country's president. Belief in witchcraft is also common in some rural communities in Angola despite strong opposition from the church in the predominantly Catholic former Portuguese colony. Last year, police said about 50 people died in Angola after being forced to drink an herbal potion to prove they were not sorcerers. During a 2009 trip to Angola, Pope Benedict urged Catholics to shun witchcraft and sorcery.
Daily Mail
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Six people accused of witchcraft are killed by mob who burn two alive, stone others to death or fatally beat them with clubs
Six people accused of witchcraft have been burned alive, stoned or beaten to death in an act of 'horrific, unspeakable barbarity' in Burundi. The mob dragged the group from their homes on Monday after accusations were made by members of the ruling party's powerful youth movement, known as the Imbonerakure, according to witnesses. Imbonerakure is described as a militia by the United Nations and rights organisations. The two men who were burned alive have been named locally as Rwoba and Bimara, as well as another man, Vinicius, who was beaten with sticks. The attacks came after unfounded rumours circulated around the cause of recent deaths including that of a teacher and child, RPA said. Locals blamed witchcraft as the reason, prompting the attacks. Bujumbura provincial governor Desire Nsengiyumva said yesterday that 12 people had been arrested over the incident. Four more have since been arrested, Le Journal Africa reported. Mr Nsengiyumva denounced the 'unacceptable mob justice', saying locals had wrongly attributed recent unexplained deaths to the victims. The tiny nation is predominantly Christian, and traditional beliefs are deeply rooted with unexplained deaths often blamed on witchcraft. Only last year, the Supreme Court sentenced a former prime minister to life imprisonment for charges 'including using witchcraft to threaten the president's life, destabilising the economy and illegal enrichment'. The official said three further people were also beaten but were ultimately rescued after police intervened. One victim remains in hospital, Le Journal Africa reported. 'A group of young Imbonerakure entered the homes of about 10 people accused of witchcraft. They then attacked them,' according to the official from Gasarara Hill, 10 kilometres east of Burundi's economic capital, Bujumbura. 'Six people were killed, two of them burned alive. The others were beaten to death with clubs or stoned with large stones thrown at their heads,' the official said. 'It was horrific, unspeakable barbarity.' Several unverified videos have circulated on social media since Tuesday but two clips set on Gasarara Hill, in the Nyabibondo area, were authenticated to AFP by two witnesses, who identified the group as the Imbonerakure. Several rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have accused the Imbonerakure of killing and torturing dozens of people, particularly under the authoritarian rule of former president Pierre Nkurunziza, in power from 2005 until 2020.
Bloomberg
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Burundi Ruling Party Wins All Seats in National Assembly
Burundi's ruling party won all 108 seats in the national assembly following an election. Three indigenous lawmakers obtained seats to fulfill so-called ethnic equilibrium, taking the total allocated to 111, National Election Commission President Prosper Ntahorwamiye said Wednesday.
Al Jazeera
02-06-2025
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Photos: People in Burundi struggle amid Lake Tanganyika's endless flooding
Asha, a mother-of-four, found herself once again donning rubber boots inside her living room – the recurring cost of residing near Lake Tanganyika in Burundi, where climate change and relentless flooding have become a part of daily life. The graceful architecture of Gatumba – a town bordering the capital, Bujumbura – serves as a testament to its past prosperity. Yet for many, that memory feels remote. Increasingly, residents resort to pitching tents atop their roofs, as children drift between homes on makeshift rafts fashioned from plastic bottles. 'We've been underwater for years,' said Asha, aged 32. Lake Tanganyika is known for its cyclical fluctuations in water level, but these have been worsened by global warming, according to Bernard Sindayihebura, an urban planning and environment specialist at the University of Burundi. He explained that surface temperatures on Africa's second-largest lake have climbed steadily, leading to heavier rainfall and pushing the lake above its historical average since 2018. With the lake swollen, the Ruzizi River is unable to drain into it, resulting in persistent floods that inundate surrounding areas like Gatumba on the northern shore. The situation escalated in 2023, when Asha and her family were forced to flee a particularly severe flood. With water rising as high as her waist, she had to seek shelter in temporary accommodation nearby. The following year, and again this year, they were displaced repeatedly, as floodwaters engulfed entire neighbourhoods. Burundi ranks among the world's poorest nations, standing 187th out of 193 on the United Nations Human Development Index. The UN also lists it as one of the 20 countries most vulnerable to climate change. In 2024, pounding rains, magnified by the El Nino phenomenon, displaced nearly 100,000 people and claimed numerous lives, although no official figures have been released. Ariella, a mother of seven now residing in the Gateri camp for internally displaced people (IDP) in northern Burundi, spoke of losing everything in the 2020 Gatumba floods. Her house collapsed, and one of her babies was almost swept away by the floodwaters. The family moved between two different camps, only to be hit by floods again. 'We often wonder what our future will look like,' said Ariella. In Gatumba, community leader Jean-Marie Niyonkuru, 42, said residents are doing their best to cope, but conditions remain dire. 'Children suffer from diarrhoea because the water has mixed with toilet water, flooding the streets,' he said. 'There is a lot of cholera.' Save the Children is now appealing for assistance, but critical funding has dried up. Under President Donald Trump, 83 percent of United States humanitarian projects have been suspended, with climate-related programmes among those most at risk. The US previously provided 40 percent of global aid, and no other country has bridged the gap.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Ibizira n'ibikorwa mu kubika no gushusha infungurwa
Gushusha ibifungurwa bishobora kugira ingaruka ku mamagara. Gukururikira izi nama bishoboira kugufasha kugabanya ivyago vyp gufatwa n'ingara ziturutse ku bifungurwa Ng'uku uko ushobora kwirinda: Ico gukora Ntugumize infungurwa zawe hanze Ntugumize infugnurwa zawe zikanye umwanya munini hanze ya firigo, nturenze amasaha abiri. Iyo ari umuceri hoho ntiukwiye kurenza isaha imwe, kubera umugera witwa bacillus cereus spores urwira. Ntushuhuruze umuceri watumyeko (waguze) hanze uhiye Burya umuceri watumyeko hanze uba wabanje gushushwa kuko bene urudandazwa baba babanje kuwuteka uri ngaho urindiriye abakiriya, bagaheza bakawushusha imbere yo kuwugurisha, bisobanura ko gusubiramwo kuwushusha irya kabiri bitera vya vyago vyo kwanduriramwo imigera yihisha mu bifungurwa. Ni vyiza kuwufungura ubwo nyene ukigushikira. Ntugumize infungurwa zitetse igihe kinini muri firigo Gerageza ivyo waraje, ibinfugure bukeye, nturenze hagati y'amasaha 24 -48 , canke ubishire mu kibanza gikonje cane bicike ibarafu (muri freezer/ congelateur) mu gihe ata mugambi ufise wo kubifungura vuba. Ntukuremwo ibarafu mu nkoko wabitse, ukoresheje amazi asusurutse Ibi bishobora gutuma impande zose zitaviramwo ibarafu icarimwe, aho usanga ibice bimwe vy' inyama yawe bigera aho bishobora guterwa n'imigera mu gihe ibindi navyo bitaba biravamwo ibifarafu neza. Ivyizza ni ukubanza ugakagabanya ubukonje bw'inyama yawe mu kuyikuramwo ibarafu, kandi mu guteka uyihishe neza. Campylobacter bacteria ni umugera ubineka mu nkoko ukunze gutera ibibazo mumushshito( igifu) harimwo kudahwa, mbere ushobora no gutuma umutnu aja mu bitaro. Don't reheat takeaway rice Takeaway rice is often pre-cooked and reheated by food businesses before it's sold, making it risky to reheat yet again. It's best eaten shortly after purchase or delivery. Don't keep home-cooked food in the fridge for too long Consume leftovers within 24-48 hours or freeze them if you don't plan to eat them soon. Don't defrost chicken with warm water This can lead to uneven thawing, where parts of the meat enter the 'danger zone' before being fully defrosted. Always defrost chicken in the fridge and cook it thoroughly. Campylobacter bacteria in poultry can lead to severe stomach issues, vomiting, and even hospitalisation. What you should do Always store food in the fridge before reheating it. Research shows that keeping food refrigerated (at 5°C or below) limits the growth of harmful pathogens. Cool your food before putting it in the fridge Putting hot food straight in to the fridge can push your fridge's temperature up, compromising other foods and allowing bacteria to grow. Ideally, let your food cool at room temperature and refrigerate it as soon as it's cooled. In warmer climates, the less time food spends outside, the safer it will be. Understand the 'danger zone' Between 8°C and 63°C, bacteria can multiply rapidly. Keeping your fridge below 5°C helps prevent food poisoning, while freezing food at -18°C pauses bacterial activity. However, bacteria are not killed during freezing - they can revive once food defrosts. Put cooled food in the freezer to defrost later You can freeze food up until its use-by date, including products like bread, which defrosts well and lasts longer in the freezer. Defrost frozen food fully before reheating Defrost food in the fridge for up to 24 hours, depending on the item. Larger items like a whole chicken will take longer, while smaller portions defrost faster. Some foods can be defrosted in the microwave, but it's best to follow manufacturer instructions. Defrosting in the fridge ensures food stays out of the 'danger zone.' Make sure food is fully thawed before cooking Partially defrosted food may cook unevenly, allowing harmful bacteria to survive. Reheat and consume any leftover rice within 24 hours Rice can contain bacillus cereus spores that survive cooking. Cooling and refrigerating rice promptly reduces the risk, but reheating should only be done once. Freezing cooked rice can pause spore growth. Be extra careful when reheating food for vulnerable people People with weakened immune systems, underlying conditions, pregnant women, young children, and older adults are at higher risk of foodborne illnesses. Reheat food until it's steaming hot throughout If defrosting food in the microwave, stir it halfway through to ensure even heating.
