<p>Burundi's Minister of Communication and Media was found dead early Thursday morning in the driver's seat of a pickup truck parked in a rural palm grove near Bujumbura, according to administrative and police sources who spoke to AFP.</p> <p>The body of Gabby Bugaga was discovered by farmers approximately ten meters from the road that cuts through the hundreds of hectares of oil palms in the Kivoga plantation, about ten kilometers north of the economic capital, Bujumbura.</p> <p>Those who discovered the body and vehicle shared photos on social media in an attempt to identify the deceased. These photos were authenticated by the two sources interviewed by AFP.</p> <p>"It is indeed the body of Minister Gabby Bugaga that was found this (Thursday) morning in a vehicle (...) in the Kivoga palm trees," a senior police officer who requested anonymity confirmed to AFP.</p> <p>"We have not yet determined the cause of his death," the officer added, noting that the deceased minister had a head wound and that the right side and rear of the vehicle were heavily damaged.</p> <p>An administrative official from Bujumbura province confirmed to AFP that the body discovered was that of Minister Bugaga, without providing further details. "An investigation is underway to determine the cause of his death," explained the official, who also requested anonymity.</p> <p>Several senior Burundian officials, including Interior and Public Security Minister Léonidas Ndaruzaniye, Justice Minister Alfred Ahingejeje, the Attorney General, and top security service officials were on the scene Thursday, the two sources reported.</p> <p>In the photos shared on social media, Mr. Bugaga can be seen wearing shorts and a polo shirt, with white sneakers, behind the wheel, half-reclined on the vehicle's front seat.</p> <p>Signs of a major impact are visible on the right side of the vehicle.</p> <p>Numerous questions have emerged on social media following the discovery: What was the minister doing on this little-used road, especially at night, without his usual security detail?</p> <p>A former journalist for the Burundi National Radio and Television (RTNB), Gabby Bugaga later worked in the communications departments of several national institutions, was appointed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (Céni), before being named Minister of Communication in 2025.</p> <p>AFP</p>
Auteur: AFP
Publié le: Jeudi 16 Avril 2026
Commentaires (9)
Participer à la Discussion
Règles de la communauté :
💡 Astuce : Utilisez des emojis depuis votre téléphone ou le module emoji ci-dessous. Cliquez sur GIF pour ajouter un GIF animé. Collez un lien X/Twitter, TikTok ou Instagram pour l'afficher automatiquement.