While Muslims in Cibitoke (northwestern Burundi) celebrated the end of Ramadan on March 30, the widespread rise in the prices of basic necessities is weighing heavily on households. Rice, beans, meat, flour… no commodity is spared from this surge, which is worrying the population. Faced with this crisis, residents are calling for urgent measures to stabilize prices and facilitate the supply of goods.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The Eid el-Fitr celebration, marking the end of Ramadan, comes at a difficult economic time for the residents of Cibitoke. For the past month, food prices have skyrocketed, making daily life even more difficult for families.

According to several concordant sources, the price of medium-sized rice has risen from 4,500 Burundi francs to 5,500 Burundi francs, while that of premium rice has climbed from 5,000 to 6,500 francs. Beans are following the same trend : the price of a kilogram of medium-sized beans is now 4,300, compared to 3,200 francs previously, while the premium variety reaches 6,000 francs, compared to 4,000 a month ago.

Meat products are not spared : a kilogram of boneless meat currently costs 30,000 francs, compared to 26,000 previously. Corn and cassava flour have also seen sharp increases, with prices rising from 1,800 to 2,500 Burundi francs and from 1,300 to 1,800 francs, respectively. Potatoes are also affected by this inflation, reaching 2,800 francs compared to 1,800 francs a month ago, without mentioning second-hand clothing (children’s and adult clothing).

This price surge comes amid a persistent fuel shortage, which complicates the transportation of goods and contributes to rising costs. Residents also denounce the impact of the recent Ministry of Commerce order setting the prices of basic necessities, which they believe has only worsened the situation.

Faced with citizens’ anger, the governor of Cibitoke, Carême Bizoza, warned against the speculative practices of some traders. He announced the upcoming establishment of a commission to regulate prices and called for measures to facilitate the importation and movement of goods in order to ease pressure on the local market.

While awaiting concrete solutions, Cibitoke residents celebrated the end of Ramadan in a climate of precariousness and economic uncertainty.

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Muslim women in a Cibitoke market where the widespread increase in the price of basic necessities is weighing heavily on households (SOS Médias Burundi)