Bujumbura Leads Crackdown on Price Gouging, Shuts Down Bars and Hotels for Violating Price Regulations

In a crackdown on price speculation, dozens of bars and hotels in Ntahangwa commune in the economic capital Bujumbura were permanently shut down on Wednesday for violating government-regulated beverage prices. Investigations revealed these establishments were selling BRARUDI drinks above the approved prices, breaching price control regulations. Ernest Niyonzima, Leader of Ntahangwa commune, has urged police to collaborate with local authorities to enforce the closures and warned distributors, including wholesalers, of legal sanctions for non-compliance.

Similar closures were enforced in Mutimbuzi commune, Bujumbura Province earlier this week, with bars shut down for similar violations. This crackdown is part of a national effort to stabilize prices for essential goods, including beverages, cement, and sugar.

On Tuesday, leaders in northern Burundi issued stern warnings that anyone caught raising prices on BRARUDI beverages would face severe penalties, including business closures and the revocation of sales permits. Désiré Minani, Governor of Ngozi Province, introduced emergency measures to curb price hikes, mandating that vendors immediately halt any price increases. Those holding licenses for price hikes must suspend them until further notice.

Earlier this week, Burundi’s Inspector General of National Police, Joseph Ninteretse, issued a stern directive to regional police commissioners, urging swift action against price hikes across the country. He expressed frustration over the passive role of police in addressing the issue and emphasized that failure to enforce price regulations would lead to legal consequences.

“Recently, we have observed exaggerated price hikes on BRARUDI products, cement, sugar, and public transport tickets nationwide. These actions, driven by greed, harm the population and occur under the passive watch of your teams,” said Ninteretse in a statement. These measures are part of a broader government initiative to protect consumers from exploitation and restore order in the country’s markets.