SUMMARY

The CNDD – Benjamin faction was a short-lived, violent splinter group active in northwestern Burundi during late 1997. It broke away from the Conseil National pour la Défense de la Démocratie (CNDD), one of the main Hutu rebel movements during the Burundian civil war. The faction was named after its leader, Benjamin, a former CNDD combatant who allegedly stole weapons and formed his own armed group. Between November and December 1997, the group was responsible for a series of deadly attacks targeting civilians in Cibitoke province.

While the CNDD was a Hutu-dominated rebel movement advocating for the rights of the Hutu majority, the Benjamin Group's specific ideological motivations remain unclear.

The CNDD – Benjamin operated mainly in Cibitoke Province, particularly in the communes of Murwi, Mabayi, and Buganda. Their attacks targeted rural communities, often near the Kibira Forest, which provided cover and escape routes.

The CNDD – Benjamin was a Hutu militia which consisted of former CNDD combatants who followed Benjamin after his split from the main organization. The exact number of fighters is unknown

Armed with weapons reportedly stolen from the CNDD, the Benjamin Group conducted night raids on villages, employing tactics such as roadblocks, ambushes, and arson. Their attacks were characterized by brutality, including the use of machetes and firearms to kill civilians.

The group's leader, known only as "Benjamin," was a former CNDD commander who broke away from the main faction.