Révérien Nizigiyimana Questioned Over Bruce Sebanza Death in Burundi

• Révérien Nizigiyimana, Director General of the Burundi Development Agency (ADB), was questioned by the Ntahangwa Prosecutor's Office on November 2, 2026, regarding the death of ADB official Bruce Sebanza.
• Bruce Sebanza died on October 13 at the ADB premises, with conflicting reports about the circumstances, including a death certificate stating he died at home.
• Testimonies suggest Nizigiyimana and two security guards were present at the ADB offices during the night of Sebanza's death, along with an official from the National Intelligence Service.
• The National Independent Human Rights Commission (CNIDH) is investigating the case, and Sebanza's family alleges "barbaric torture" and demands full accountability.
• This incident follows a previous dispute in 2025 where Sebanza was imprisoned after a complaint from Nizigiyimana, leading to the termination of Sebanza's contract.

The investigation into Bruce Sebanza's death is unfolding amidst strong calls for transparency and justice from his family.

The Director General of the Burundi Development Agency (ADB), Révérien Nizigiyimana, was recently interrogated by the Ntahangwa Prosecutor's Office on November 2, 2026. This questioning forms a key part of the ongoing investigation into the death of Bruce Sebanza, an official within the same agency. Sebanza tragically passed away on October 13 at the ADB's premises, located north of Bujumbura, Burundi's commercial capital.

Nizigiyimana, who was on assignment in China when the summons was issued, presented himself at the prosecutor's office on Monday morning, accompanied by his mother and other family members, departing around 4:00 p.m. Judicial sources have indicated that the specific findings or conclusions from this hearing have not yet been disclosed to the public. The circumstances surrounding Bruce Sebanza's death continue to generate significant scrutiny and numerous unanswered questions.

Details surrounding the final hours of Bruce Sebanza remain unclear, with testimonies suggesting a complex sequence of events. According to accounts gathered by SOS Médias Burundi, cries for help were reportedly heard at the ADB offices during the night of October 12-13. Révérien Nizigiyimana, the agency's director general, is said to have arrived at the scene around 5:00 a.m., at which point two security guards were already reportedly restraining Bruce Sebanza.

Approximately two and a half hours later, around 7:30 a.m., Nizigiyimana allegedly contacted an official from the National Intelligence Service (SNR). This SNR official then reportedly took Sebanza away, only to return him to the ADB offices about ninety minutes later. The precise sequence of events following this intervention and leading to Sebanza's death is still pending clarification by the justice system. Further complicating the narrative, a document signed by Astère Ndayikeje, the head of the Gihosha zone, controversially stated that Bruce Sebanza died at home, despite a parenthetical note clarifying "on the ADB premises." Révérien Nizigiyimana is identified in this document as the individual who reported the death, and the unusual manner in which this certificate was prepared has also raised considerable concern. One of the two security guards suspected in the case has been arrested, while the second remains at large.

The investigation into Bruce Sebanza's death is unfolding amidst strong calls for transparency and justice from his family. Sebanza's mother, speaking at his funeral on Wednesday, October 21 — which notably occurred without a publicly announced autopsy — vehemently denounced what she described as "barbaric torture" and demanded a full revelation of the truth behind her son's demise. The family has expressed particular concern regarding the absence of one of the two security guards implicated in the case; while one has been arrested, the other remains at large.

The National Independent Human Rights Commission (CNIDH) initiated its own inquiry on October 16, visiting the ADB offices. Bishop Martin Blaise Nyaboho, the commission's president, emphasized the necessity of clarifying the death's circumstances and pledged the CNIDH's commitment to follow the case until justice is served. This tragic incident is not the first time Bruce Sebanza and Révérien Nizigiyimana have been embroiled in a dispute. In 2025, Sebanza was imprisoned following a signature forgery complaint filed by Nizigiyimana, though he was later released on bail. During his detention, Sebanza's contract was terminated, as previously reported by SOS Médias Burundi. This case resonates within a broader context of persistent accusations of impunity in Burundi, where human rights defenders frequently highlight a lack of independent investigations and prosecutions for human rights violations, arguing that the absence of accountability encourages further abuses.

This case highlights significant corporate governance and human rights risks for entities operating in Burundi, particularly concerning the accountability of high-ranking officials for employee welfare and the challenges in navigating judicial processes. Lawyers should advise clients on potential corporate liability in suspicious death investigations and the implications of alleged impunity on corporate reputation and compliance.

Source: Original reporting via SOS Médias Burundi