Burundi: persistent fuel shortage exposes population to serious dangers

SOS Médias Burundi
Muyinga, April 27, 2025 – SOS Médias Burundi has witnessed trafficking tolerated by the administration in the upcountry provinces, with no regard for public safety. The fuel crisis that has rocked Burundi for more than four years continues to wreak havoc. In a country already facing a serious economic crisis, this chronic shortage continues to worsen citizens’ living conditions. In several northern and central provinces, an unofficial solution has emerged: motorcyclists are authorized, with the tacit approval of certain authorities, to traffic fuel between Tanzania and the interior of the country.
Coming mainly from Ngozi, Kayanza, Karusi, and Gitega, these motorcyclists carry up to 10 cans of fuel on a single motorcycle. To maximize their profits, they drive at high speeds, often in convoys, hoping to make multiple trips during the day. This dangerous practice raises fears of the worst.
Lucky traffic, lives in danger
Each trip can bring in up to 100,000 Burundian francs, a tempting amount in the current economic situation. But this frantic race for profit is not without consequences: several accidents, some fatal, have been recorded. In Karusi, a motorcyclist lost his life last year after a collision that caused a fire fueled by the fuel he was transporting. This was neither the first nor the last tragedy of this kind.
In both Ngozi and Muyinga, the population is alarmed. « These motorcyclists drive at breakneck speed. There are regular accidents. We live in fear, » says a resident of Rugari, who claims to have witnessed several serious accidents in the space of a week.
Silence and inaction from the authorities
Despite these risks, the traffic police remains silence on the speed limits on these improvised fuel transporters. This tolerance has sparked outrage. « The police should at least regulate these activities and impose a maximum speed. They’re transporting fuel, it’s explosive! » complains a merchant from Ngozi.
A crisis fueling inflation
This endless shortage also has serious economic consequences. The price of a liter of fuel, purchased for just over 9,000 BIF in Tanzania, is being resold for over 17,000 BIF by the leaders of these networks. This price surge is indirectly affecting all sectors. Food is becoming increasingly inaccessible, transportation is out of reach for the poorest, and runaway inflation is strangling households.
In some further inland areas, even basic products have become no longer accessible triggering anger among the population
Faced with this multifaceted crisis, voices are rising. In Karuzi, a young teacher no longer hides his exasperation: « We are suffering enormously. Why are we the only country in the region experiencing such a shortage? The government must act or give way to those who can! »
No official statement suggesting a quick solution to this crisis. In the meantime, exhausted and worried Burundians are consistently suffering from the effects of an endless shortage, fueled by speculation, insecurity, and widespread inflation.
Motorcycle taxi drivers carry their vehicles’ tanks on their heads in search of fuel (SOS Médias Burundi)
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Motorcycle taxi drivers carry the tanks of their vehicles on their heads in search of fuel (SOS Médias Burundi)