Panic and fear has engulfed residents of Burundi’s Chibitoke district, an area bordering the DR Congo.
The residents, mostly subsistence farmers, are being accused by government of colluding with Congolese AFC/M23 rebels.
The evictions, which started September 21, have seen more than a hundred farming families forcibly removed from Kaboya and Mbaza sub-villages, Rukana village, in Rugombo zone, Cibitoke district in western Burundi.
According to local farmers, some people were intercepted en route to the DRC with goods.
“Farmers were accused of colluding with the M23 rebels, which the authorities suspect of receiving food supplies from them. These accusations are described as a “pretext” by those involved, who believe it is a strategy to drive them from these fertile lands.”
Meanwhile, Chibitoke district administrator, Éloge Najeneza, confirmed the eviction.
He justified the evictions saying there was presence of armed gangs from the DRC allegedly threatening the security of the population.
“The security measures taken are irreversible,” he declared, warning residents against any attempt to return under penalty of sanctions.
A similar situation has happened to residents of Mbaza-Miduha marshland in the same province, where more than 400 people were evicted from over 1,200 hectares a few years ago.
According to local sources, the evictions were carried out with complicity of administration officials supported by the Imbonerakure.
