Burundi: 13 Banyamulenge Pastors Arrested on Espionage Charges

• Burundian authorities presented 13 individuals, mostly Banyamulenge refugees and pastors, accused of espionage for Rwanda and armed groups in eastern DRC.
• The suspects were shown in handcuffs at the National Intelligence Service headquarters in Bujumbura after being detained for nearly a month.
• Charges include undermining state security, using forged documents, and harming the national economy, with alleged ties to groups like AFC/M23 and Red-Tabara.
• Security Ministry spokesperson Pierre Nkurikiye publicly urged Burundians to monitor the Banyamulenge community and cease renting houses to them.
• Relatives and community members dispute the accusations, citing unfair targeting based on ethnicity and church locations, and denying political involvement by the pastors.

The individual further contended that accusing them of espionage solely due to their churches having branches in eastern Congo is unjust, equating it to labeling all pastors with congregations in Goma as spies.

Burundian authorities publicly presented thirteen individuals, predominantly Banyamulenge refugees, to a select group of journalists on Friday, October 9. These individuals, including several pastors, were accused of engaging in espionage activities on behalf of Rwanda and various armed factions operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The presentation took place at the National Intelligence Service (SNR) headquarters in Bujumbura, Burundi's commercial capital, where the suspects were shown in handcuffs.

Prior to their public unveiling, the thirteen individuals, comprising eleven men and two women, had been held by the SNR for approximately one month. The charges leveled against them are severe, encompassing espionage for an enemy entity, undermining state security, the use of forged documents, and actions detrimental to the national economy. This event marks a significant development in the ongoing tensions surrounding the Banyamulenge community in Burundi, drawing attention to allegations of a widespread spy network.

During the presentation, Pierre Nkurikiye, spokesperson for the Ministry of Security, issued a public directive urging Burundian citizens to actively monitor members of the Banyamulenge community. He specifically called for residents to cease renting housing to them, particularly within Bujumbura, stating, "We must monitor their movements and stop renting them houses, especially here in Bujumbura."

Authorities further alleged that the suspects collaborated with several armed groups active in the region. These include the AFC/M23, a Burundian armed group known as Red-Tabara which is based in eastern DRC, and Twirwaneho, an armed group primarily composed of Congolese Tutsi minority fighters, the Banyamulenge. Additionally, some of the accused are implicated in using religious networks to facilitate the creation and distribution of forged documents. Among the pastors presented were Mark Ntayoberwa, head of the Stone Evangelical Church, whose Burundian headquarters are in Ngagara, Bujumbura, and whose church has branches in Goma and Bukavu, areas controlled by AFC/M23 since early 2025. Gédéon Nzayitegaho, pastor of the Carmel Church in Mutakura, Bujumbura, was also identified. Jalos Nkunda Kilaya, who leads the Evangelical Church in the Great Lakes Region (EEPGL), was reportedly apprehended on September 8 at Bujumbura International Airport while attempting to travel to Kigali, Rwanda, allegedly possessing a Rwandan passport. His wife and a student were subsequently arrested during a search focused on a phone, and various sources have described him as a double agent, though this remains unverified.

The accusations and the public directives have sparked significant concern and strong denials from the relatives of the detained individuals and members of their congregations. They vehemently dispute the charges, asserting that their religious leaders are being unfairly targeted. A close associate of one of the implicated religious figures rejected the allegations, arguing that the mere presence of church branches in eastern DRC does not constitute grounds for espionage suspicions.

This associate emphasized that their churches are not involved in politics and that the arrested pastors have no political affiliations. The individual further contended that accusing them of espionage solely due to their churches having branches in eastern Congo is unjust, equating it to labeling all pastors with congregations in Goma as spies. The source lamented that Burundians who legally represent their churches are being associated with politics and Rwanda simply because they are Tutsis. These remarks from Pierre Nkurikiye have caused considerable apprehension within the Banyamulenge community, many of whom are refugees who sought safety in Burundi after fleeing violence and instability in eastern DRC. A community leader, a refugee in Burundi since 2008, stressed the importance of individually examining each accusation and upholding the rights of the accused.

Lawyers advising clients with operations or personnel in Burundi, especially those from the Banyamulenge community or involved in religious organizations, must be vigilant regarding the heightened risk of arbitrary detention, lack of due process, and discriminatory enforcement of laws following official calls to monitor and refuse housing to this group. Compliance officers should assess the increased risk of human rights violations and potential for politically motivated charges impacting business operations and employee safety.

Source: Original reporting via SOS Médias Burundi