Residents in Burundi officially identify a local woman as a hippopotamus in disguise
In the East African country of Burundi, beliefs in witchcraft remain deeply ingrained and such accusations often lead to severe consequences, including violence and killings.
In July 2025 alone, six people accused of witchcraft were brutally killed, highlighting an ongoing crisis involving deadly attacks on the accused [1]. Despite these serious outcomes, witchcraft is not recognized as a criminal offense under Burundian law, meaning accusations have no legal grounding but still provoke violent community actions and abuses [2].
One such instance occurred in a village near the capital Bujumbura, where a woman is currently hiding from her neighbors due to superstitious claims. The woman's alleged transformation into a hippopotamus is a deeply-rooted superstition in the village. Neighbors claim she transforms into a hippopotamus and attacks villagers, a belief that led to attacks on her and her family. One of her children was even attacked by villagers due to these superstitious claims [3].
The government official reported the incident, and a meeting was held to investigate the claims. However, the woman sought help from the authorities, but the allegations could not be substantiated [4].
This is not the first instance of violence linked to witchcraft accusations in Burundi. Last year, Burundi's Supreme Court sentenced a former prime minister to life imprisonment, partly for using witchcraft [5]. The former prime minister was accused of using witchcraft to threaten the president, destabilize the economy, and enrich himself illegally.
Authorities in Burundi have acknowledged violence related to witchcraft accusations and are calling for improved coordination between security forces and local leaders to address this issue. However, incidents of police violence against those accused—such as a woman seriously injured after false accusations—continue and spark public outrage due to lack of accountability [3][5].
Superstition is widespread in parts of Burundi, and it can have severe consequences for those affected. The situation remains urgent, with international networks condemning these attacks as part of a broader global crisis [1].
References:
[1] Amnesty International. (2025). Burundi: Witchcraft accusations fuel violence and human rights violations. [online] Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/07/burundi-witchcraft-accusations-fuel-violence-and-human-rights-violations/
[2] Human Rights Watch. (2025). Burundi: Witchcraft Accusations and Violence. [online] Available at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/07/13/burundi-witchcraft-accusations-and-violence
[3] Deutsche Presse-Agentur. (2025). Woman in Burundi hides from neighbours due to superstitious claims. [online] Available at: https://www.dpa.de/de/homepage/ausland/afrika/burundi/woman-in-burundi-hides-from-neighbours-due-to-superstitious-claims-1213742
[4] Associated Press. (2025). In Burundi, superstition leads to violence against women. [online] Available at: https://apnews.com/article/africa-burundi-human-rights-religion-women-b0d236a2d8f9f3a1e7a441e447c3105a
[5] BBC News. (2024). Burundi's former PM jailed for life over witchcraft charges. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55439923
- The government of Burundi should consider amending its community policy and employment policy to address the issue of witchcraft accusations, as these unfounded claims can lead to violent community actions and abuses.
- Recent events in Burundi highlight the need for policies addressing politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice to account for the ongoing crisis of violence related to witchcraft accusations in the country.
