Burundian marine forces in Rumonge Province, southern Burundi, arrested two men on the night of January 21-22, 2025, with 2,980 liters of smuggled fuel. The contraband, hidden in a ‘Townace’ vehicle, was intercepted on National Road No. 3 near Kigwena. Reports indicate the fuel was being transported from neighboring Tanzania to the Bugarama area. The suspects are currently in detention in Rumonge Commune and is scheduled to face trial on January 23, according to local media.
The arrest highlights the growing prevalence of fuel smuggling in Burundi, driven by chronic shortages that have disrupted daily life and strained the economy. Earlier this week, police in Ruyigi Province seized 1,400 liters of fuel at a bus station on National Road No. 13 in Ngarama. According to Jimbere magazine, the fuel, packed in 70 containers of 20 liters each, was destined for the black market. A smuggler, speaking anonymously, admitted that the fuel had also been sourced from Tanzania to meet rising demand caused by the ongoing crisis.
The scarcity of fuel has forced vehicle owners and drivers to turn to illicit markets. Local reports reveal that a single 20-liter jerry can of fuel can sell for as much as 200,000 Burundian Francs, a price that underscores the profits fueling the illegal trade.
Efforts to curb smuggling have intensified in recent months. In January, residents in Cibitoke Province reported fuel smuggling from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which led to violent confrontations between smugglers and security forces. Gunfire was heard during the clashes, resulting in injuries, according to security sources.
In November, a court in Rumonge Province sentenced two individuals to six months in prison and fined them one million Burundian Francs each for engaging in the illegal fuel trade. A third suspect was acquitted. The seized fuel, which totaled over 2,500 liters and was stored in four houses in Rumonge’s Swahili neighborhood, was ordered to be sold, with proceeds directed to the public treasury.
In a ruling handed down by the High Court of Rumonge on Thursday afternoon, the two men were sentenced to five months in prison and fined 500,000 Burundian francs each for the crime of undermining the national economy by illegally importing fuel into the country. In addition to their prison sentences and fines, the seized fuel was handed over to the government, where it will be utilized for public development projects.
This article has been updated to include the ruling issued by the Rumonge High Court
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