Burundi’s President, Évariste Ndayishimiye, has appointed a new head of logistics for the army following a deadly munitions explosion at a military base in the country’s political capital.
In a presidential decree signed on April 22, Colonel Thierry Kabura was named as the new chief of the logistics service of the Burundi National Defence Force (FDNB), replacing Colonel Ernest Musaba. The appointment comes nearly three weeks after a fatal explosion rocked a military camp in Bujumbura.
The same decree introduced a broader reshuffle within the military’s high command. Colonel Gordien Kazindu was appointed head of Information Systems and Communications, while Colonel Jonas Sabushimike will lead the Higher Institute of Military Cadres.
Additional appointments include Brigadier General Désiré Manirakiza, who will command the Second Infantry Division, and Colonel Jean-Pierre Mbonyiyeze, named head of the Fourth Infantry Division.
These changes follow an explosion on March 31, 2026, at a military base in the Musaga zone, south of Bujumbura. According to official figures released by the army, at least 13 people were killed and several others injured. However, critics have questioned the official toll, suggesting the number of casualties may be significantly higher.
The military initially attributed the incident to an electrical short circuit inside an ammunition depot. However, President Ndayishimiye publicly challenged that explanation in a recent interview with the Collective of Burundian Bloggers Yaga.
“I have overseen the sector responsible for munitions. To my knowledge, and from visits I have made, there is no electricity in an ammunition storage facility. It is strictly prohibited,” he said.
The president emphasized that while fires can occur as accidents anywhere in the world, conclusions should not be drawn prematurely. He also pledged that a thorough investigation is underway.
“When such incidents happen, we conduct meticulous investigations. These do not happen in a single day but gradually,” he added.
