Since the beginning of July, Burundians who stock up on fuel at petrol stations in Tanzania have no longer been received. Tanzanian authorities tell them that the fuel they have is for the Tanzanians. At the same time, a few meters from a station near the Burundian-Tanzanian border, Tanzanians sell fuel in cans to Burundians in broad daylight at a much higher price.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

A liter of gasoline costs 4,000 shillings while the price at the pump is 3,580 shillings at petrol stations. Fuel oil can be bought at 4,000 shillings while its normal price is 3,400 shillings, according to drivers met on the Tanzanian border.

“Previously, everyone was served the quantities they wanted. They even agreed to serve us in cans,” they added.

Currently, one Tanzanian shilling is exchanged for 2.35 Burundi francs, which means that a liter of gasoline costs more than 9,000 Burundi francs on the black market in Tanzania.

And added, « Until June, we had problems with the police and Burundian administration authorities who did not hesitate to seize imported fuel in cans without any explanation. »

Many Tanzanians, including women, with huge cans containing fuel of all kinds are in a eucalyptus plantation less than 200 meters from the Burundian barrier.

« When a Burundian vehicle arrives at the station in the center of Manyovu in the province of Kigoma a few kilometers from the border, the employees tell us that the remaining fuel is reserved only for Tanzanians, which is incomprehensible, a few meters of the Burundian barrier, a black market is very active. If you want even 1000 liters, you are served,” lament Burundians.

They believe that the gas station employees have reportedly agreed with the black market traders before they even started this trafficking.

Motorists say they are being mistreated both in Tanzania and Burundi.

Some police officers either seize fuel in cans or demand bribes to let them pass.

The provinces which obtain the most supplies from the Tanzanian soil are Makamba, Rutana, Rumonge, Bujumbura in the southwest and southeast Burundi.

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A fuel sales point in the town of Uvira (DRC), July 2024 ©️ SOS Médias Burundi