As Burundi marks the 12th anniversary of the catastrophic fire that destroyed Bujumbura Central Market in 2013, Gabriel Rufyiri, chairman of the local civil society organization OLUCOME, has called on the government to implement urgent measures to enhance market safety and prevent similar incidents.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Rufyiri criticized the government and citizens for their negligence, which he says has led to substantial economic losses. He highlighted the critical importance of Bujumbura Central Market, saying, “Nearly 20% of the country’s total wealth was tied to this market, which accommodated over 5,000 merchants. It was also a regional market of great importance. Yet, after 12 years, no lessons seem to have been drawn, and the market has not been rebuilt.”
Rufyiri also expressed frustration over the lack of responsibility from both authorities and the public, adding, “It feels as though neither we, the Burundians, nor our leaders understand what should be prioritized.”
The Bujumbura Central Market, once the economic hub of Burundi, was engulfed by flames at dawn on January 27, 2013. The fire, which destroyed goods worth millions of dollars, left merchants and the national economy reeling.
In the years following the incident, the government repeatedly announced plans to rebuild the market but failed to deliver on its promises. In 2016, a project to replace the market with a modern shopping mall was launched, but it never materialized. “If nothing changes, work will begin this year,” said Jean Bosco Ntunzwenimana, then Minister of Public Works, in 2017. However, significant progress remains absent.
In September 2024, over 11 years after the fire, the Ubaka Nation Group, led by Burundian diaspora member Fablice Manirakiza, announced the launch of rehabilitation efforts. The project, expected to be completed in five years, aims to build a modern complex funded through voluntary contributions from Burundian citizens. Shares are priced at 103,000 BIF for residents and $103 for members of the diaspora.
Manirakiza noted that the demolition phase had been completed and that preparations for the construction of the first building were underway. “We are optimistic that the agreement with the Ministry of Infrastructure will be signed this month. Once it is, construction equipment and cement trucks will immediately arrive on site,” he said.
Despite these developments, Rufyiri remains critical of the government’s role, asserting that accountability should not be left to private actors. “We want to hear about the steps being made, not just from Manirakiza coming to tell us what’s going on,” he said. Rufyiri also called on merchants affected by the 2013 fire to take an active role in monitoring the reconstruction process to ensure transparency.
The 2013 fire is just one of many market fires that have devastated the country’s economic capital Bujumbura over the past two decades. Recent incidents, such as the fire at “Ku Kabasazi” market, have left countless families in despair. Rufyiri criticized the government’s inaction in addressing the root causes of these fires and its failure to implement preventive measures.
“There are no firefighting vehicles stationed near these markets. When fires break out, these vehicles are often unavailable because they are sometimes diverted for personal use, such as watering gardens,” Rufyiri claimed.
To prevent future tragedies, Rufyiri urged the government to establish an independent investigation team to determine the causes of market fires and hold those responsible accountable. He also called for the implementation of stricter construction standards and the placement of firefighting equipment near markets.
“The protection of our markets and the economy should be a national priority,” Rufyiri said.
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