Adjudant-chef Désiré Ndikumasabo and Caporal-chef Jean-Marie Manirambona, who retired less than a year ago, were presented to the press on September 1 at the Service national de renseignement (SNR) headquarters in Bujumbura. This public presentation was conducted by Pierre Nkurikiye, spokesperson for the Ministry of Security, who detailed the allegations against the two former military members. The presentation comes amid ongoing discussions regarding alleged collaboration claims, specifically concerning their involvement in a project to recruit military personnel.
Arrests and Detention Details
Désiré Ndikumasabo and Jean-Marie Manirambona were arrested on August 25. Their apprehension occurred along with four other individuals, comprising three military personnel and one police officer. The arrests took place near a location identified as "chez Rukara" in the Buterere zone, situated north of Bujumbura, a residential area in the capital city. Authorities stated that the six men were suspected of conducting a clandestine meeting at the time of their arrest, raising immediate concerns about their activities. This suspicion of a covert gathering formed the initial basis for their detention by law enforcement.
Following their arrest, investigators questioned the individuals regarding their communications with journalist Bob Rugurika and Pacifique Nininahazwe, a prominent civil society figure. The interrogations also focused on their potential connections to armed movements, probing for any links to groups aiming to destabilize the country. These inquiries sought to establish whether there was any coordination with external forces or individuals deemed hostile to the state. After these initial interrogations, three military personnel and the police officer were subsequently released, indicating that the immediate suspicions against them might have been alleviated or unproven. However, Désiré Ndikumasabo and Jean-Marie Manirambona remained in custody and were transferred from the Ntahangwa police cell to the Service national de renseignement (SNR) on August 27, signaling a more serious level of inquiry into their activities and alleged associations.
Journalist Bob Rugurika, implicated in the allegations, described the events surrounding the arrests and accusations as a "montage grotesque" (grotesque setup). He further characterized the situation as a "machination destinés, selon lui, à le discréditer" (machination intended, according to him, to discredit him), suggesting a deliberate plot against his reputation and work.
Allegations and Presented Evidence
The two former military personnel, Désiré Ndikumasabo and Jean-Marie Manirambona, are formally accused of collaborating with journalist Bob Rugurika. This alleged collaboration was part of a broader project aimed at recruiting military personnel to join a rebellion and ultimately overthrow institutions, according to the authorities' claims. During the press conference, Désiré Ndikumasabo stated that he had phone contacts with Bob Rugurika and admitted to having received two payments from him. The first payment amounted to 500,000 Burundian francs, followed by an additional 300,000 Burundian francs, totaling 800,000 Burundian francs. The stated objective of this alleged collaboration, as presented by authorities, was to gather support for an insurgency and facilitate the overthrow of existing governmental and state institutions, thus disrupting the established order.
Authorities further claim that the two men transmitted false information regarding between 25 and 30 military personnel, providing details that could potentially be used by hostile groups. They also allegedly provided intelligence on several strategic axes in southern Burundi, which could be critical for military movements or operations. Police sources indicate that documents were found in Jean-Marie Manirambona's bag during his arrest. These documents reportedly included notebooks referencing collaboration with rebel groups, providing what authorities consider tangible evidence of their alleged activities. However, these specific documents were notably not publicly presented or displayed during the press conference held at the SNR headquarters, leading to questions about their nature and authenticity. The absence of a public display of these purported documents has fueled skepticism among some observers regarding the strength of the evidence.
Journalist Bob Rugurika, who has been living in exile since May 2015, previously described the entire sequence of events as a "montage grotesque," vehemently denying the accusations. He reiterated his view that the situation was a "machination destinés, selon lui, à le discréditer" (machination intended, according to him, to discredit him), asserting his innocence and suggesting ulterior motives behind the allegations.
Background and Unanswered Questions
The article notes that no definitive judicial decision has been made establishing the guilt of Désiré Ndikumasabo, Jean-Marie Manirambona, or journalist Bob Rugurika in this case. The legal process is still unfolding, and the accusations remain to be proven in court. It has also emerged that Ndikumasabo previously received specialized training in drone use within the Democratic Republic of Congo, a detail that could be relevant to the nature of the information he is accused of transmitting. This prior training could potentially equip him with skills pertinent to intelligence gathering or reconnaissance, which authorities might consider significant in their investigation. Bob Rugurika, who described the events as a "montage grotesque" and a "machination destinés, selon lui, à le discréditer," has been living in exile since May 2015, making his direct involvement in any alleged recruitment activities within Burundi logistically challenging. The ongoing investigation and the lack of publicly presented physical evidence for some claims leave several questions unanswered regarding the full scope and veracity of the allegations. The absence of a final judicial ruling means that all parties involved are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
