Burundi Intelligence: Banyamulenge Pastors Arrested in Bujumbura

• Burundian intelligence services arrested several Banyamulenge community members in Bujumbura in September 2026.
• Prominent detainees include pastors Jalos Nkunda Kilaya, Gédéon Nzayitegaho, and Mark Ntayoberwa, alongside Murama Gatonzi.
• These arrests occurred amid heightened regional tensions between Burundi and Rwanda, and the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Families of those arrested report a severe lack of official information regarding charges, reasons for detention, or their loved ones' well-being.
• The National Intelligence Service (SNR) headquarters, where some detainees are held, has been cited by human rights organizations as a site of alleged torture and ill-treatment.

The lack of official reasons for these detentions, coupled with reports of family members being denied access and information, underscores significant human rights concerns.

In September 2026, Burundian intelligence services initiated a series of arrests targeting members of the Banyamulenge community in Bujumbura, Burundi's commercial capital. These detentions unfolded against a backdrop of escalating tensions between Burundi and Rwanda, alongside the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Among those apprehended were several religious leaders, including pastors Jalos Nkunda Kilaya, Gédéon Nzayitegaho, and Mark Ntayoberwa, as well as Murama Gatonzi. The precise circumstances surrounding many of these arrests and the official justifications from authorities have remained largely undisclosed.

Pastor Jalos Nkunda Kilaya was reportedly detained on September 8, 2026, at Melchior Ndadaye International Airport in Bujumbura, just as he prepared to board a flight bound for Rwanda. Local sources indicate that General Ildephonse Habarurema, the Administrator-General of the National Intelligence Service (SNR), oversaw this arrest. Following his apprehension, intelligence agents reportedly escorted Pastor Kilaya to his residence for a search. While no official reasons for his detention have been released, some unverified reports suggest his possession of a Rwandan passport may have been a factor.

Two days later, on September 10, additional Banyamulenge individuals were arrested in Bujumbura. Pastor Gédéon Nzayitegaho, who leads the Carmel Church in the Mutakura neighborhood, was reportedly taken into custody directly from his church during a congregation. Intelligence agents subsequently transported him to the SNR headquarters, a location frequently cited by human rights organizations and detainees' relatives as a site where torture and ill-treatment have been reported. His family has not received any official explanation for his arrest and claims they have been denied visitation rights, leaving them without information regarding his health or any potential charges. Pastor Mark Ntayoberwa of Cornerstone Church and Murama Gatonzi were also among those arrested during this period.

Regarding Murama Gatonzi, some reports from Bujumbura suggest his case may involve the alleged issuance of immigration documents deemed irregular by authorities. However, these accusations have not been publicly confirmed by any judicial body, and he is presumed innocent. For the other individuals detained, the specific reasons for their arrests remain elusive, causing considerable distress among their families who report a severe lack of information concerning their loved ones' whereabouts, health, or legal status.

The arrests of Banyamulenge individuals in Burundi are inextricably linked to the complex and volatile geopolitical landscape of the Great Lakes region. The Banyamulenge are a Tutsi minority group primarily residing in South Kivu, eastern DRC. Historically, detractors have frequently portrayed this community as foreign to Congo and aligned with Rwanda, a narrative that has consistently fueled ethnic tensions in the North and South Kivu provinces.

This perception is further complicated by the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, where the armed group Twirwaneho, largely composed of Banyamulenge fighters, has formed an alliance with the politico-military coalition known as the Congo River Alliance-M23 (AFC-M23). This coalition currently controls significant territories in both North and South Kivu, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu. The government in Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of providing support to the AFC-M23, an allegation Kigali vehemently denies.

Burundi has actively engaged in this regional conflict, deploying its military forces to fight alongside the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and the Congolese government-backed Wazalendo militias against the AFC-M23 and its allies. Within this highly charged environment, the Banyamulenge community often finds itself in a precarious position. Reports indicate that whenever military setbacks or losses occur on the ground, members of the Banyamulenge community frequently become targets of reprisal or suspicion.

The circumstances surrounding the recent Banyamulenge arrests in Bujumbura raise serious concerns regarding arbitrary detention and fundamental human rights. The consistent lack of official communication from Burundian authorities regarding the reasons for these detentions, coupled with reports of family members being denied access and information, underscores significant human rights concerns. Families of those arrested have expressed profound distress over their inability to visit their relatives or obtain precise details about their health or any charges they might face.

Further compounding these concerns is the reported location of some detainees at the National Intelligence Service (SNR) headquarters. This facility has been repeatedly cited by human rights organizations and individuals who have been detained there as a site where acts of torture and other forms of ill-treatment are alleged to occur. The absence of transparency and due process in these cases highlights a troubling pattern of potential human rights violations within Burundi's detention system. The presumption of innocence, a cornerstone of justice, appears to be undermined when individuals are held without clear charges or access to legal representation and family contact.

Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware of the heightened risk of arbitrary detention and human rights violations for individuals, particularly Banyamulenge, in Burundi. The lack of due process and official information regarding these arrests signals significant legal and compliance risks for clients operating in or engaging with the country.

Source: Original reporting via regional news outlets.