On April 29, 2026, an incident in Mparamirundi, located in Kayanza Commune of Butanyerera Province in Burundi, sparked controversy and uncertainty after reports emerged that Burundian police had shot dead two civilians suspected of smuggling coffee into Rwanda. However, senior government officials have strongly denied these claims.
According to local sources, early that morning police arrested four individuals accused of attempting to illegally transport coffee across the Rwanda–Burundi border, which has remained closed for the past two years. The suspects were reportedly found carrying between 40 and 60 kilograms of coffee, believed to be intended for smuggling.
The four individuals were taken to the Mparamirundi police station. Some reports indicate that two of them were later shot dead on orders allegedly given by the station commander, identified as Franck.
Additional information circulated by media outlets, including SOS Medias, suggests that there may be directives from higher authorities instructing police operating along the border to shoot individuals caught smuggling goods.
However, Burundian police have rejected these allegations, stating that the gunfire heard at the Mparamirundi station was aimed at dispersing a crowd of residents who had gathered and caused unrest while demanding the release of those arrested. According to police, all shots were fired into the air to restore order.
This position was echoed by Burundi’s Ministry of Public Security, which issued a statement denying any deaths. The ministry stated: “No one was killed in Mparamirundi zone, Kayanza commune, Butanyerera province. Those caught attempting to cross the border with coffee illegally will be brought to court immediately.”
Despite these official denials, conflicting accounts from local residents continue to circulate. Some claim that the two individuals were indeed killed and secretly buried, and that police officers were instructed to maintain that the suspects are still in custody rather than acknowledge their deaths.
The situation remains unclear, with starkly different narratives emerging from official sources and local witnesses. The incident has raised concerns among observers and human rights advocates, who are calling for an independent investigation to establish the truth about what happened in Mparamirundi.
