Brigadier General Romuald Ndababishije was arrested in Bujumbura over the weekend of 17-18 October 2026. Agents from the Service national de renseignement (SNR) carried out the detention of the migration official. The operation, conducted by the Service national de renseignement (SNR), marks a significant development involving a high-ranking official tasked with overseeing the nation's migration policies.
A person close to the general stated regarding the circumstances of the arrest: "Jusqu’à présent, nous ignorons les raisons de son arrestation. D’ailleurs, peu de gens veulent en parler." The Service national de renseignement has provided no further details regarding the grounds for the operation or the current location of the detainee. Family members and associates remain without official information concerning the status of the Brigadier General following the security service's intervention in the capital. The lack of transparency from the Service national de renseignement (SNR) has left those close to the official in a state of uncertainty, as the security apparatus has maintained silence on the specific legal or administrative basis for the detention.
Circumstances of the Arrest
Brigadier General Romuald Ndababishije arrived in Bujumbura on Friday, 16 October 2026, following the completion of a professional mission in Ethiopia. This return preceded the weekend intervention by the Service national de renseignement that resulted in his detention. The timing of the arrest, occurring shortly after his arrival from Ethiopia on Friday, October 16, 2026, has become a focal point for those attempting to understand the sequence of events leading to the security service's actions.
Multiple members of the general's team were also taken into custody by security personnel during the operation. Members of the general's team were also reportedly detained by the agents during the same security sweep. Attempts to establish communication with these individuals have failed, according to three people who tried to contact them. These individuals stated: "Ils ne répondent pas au téléphone quand on appelle sur leurs téléphones portables." The inability to reach these team members has compounded the concerns of those seeking information, as the security situation remains fluid and the whereabouts of the entire group remain undisclosed by the authorities.
Unverified reports circulating in the capital suggest the arrest may be linked to allegations regarding money demanded for the issuance of passports to employees of the Burundian presidency. Unverified reports suggest the arrest may be linked to money demanded for the issuance of passports to employees of the Burundian presidency. The Service national de renseignement has not confirmed these claims or provided information regarding the specific status of the team members detained alongside the Brigadier General. The silence from the Service national de renseignement (SNR) regarding these specific allegations leaves the public and the associates of the Brigadier General without clarity as to whether the detention is part of a broader investigation into passport issuance procedures or an isolated administrative action. Efforts to secure comment from official government channels regarding the status of the Brigadier General and the detained team members have thus far yielded no further information.
