In a recent operation, 154 liters of fuel were seized from a bus belonging to OTRACO, a state-owned transport company, in the eastern province of Ruyigi on Thursday.
Local media report that the police confirmed the fuel seizure, stressing that even vehicles belonging to state companies are subject to strict control. “The enforcement of regulations is crucial, and fraudulent transactions will be penalized,” a police source was quoted as saying. The same source urged citizens to stop attempting fraud by exploiting public property.
Burundi has been struggling with a severe fuel shortage that has disrupted daily life and paralyzed the economy. The crisis, which has lasted for years, is driven by a chronic shortage of foreign currency, making it increasingly difficult for the country to import enough fuel to meet its needs.
The government has been on high alert, attempting to manage its dwindling reserves while enforcing strict measures to control the distribution of the available fuel. However, these efforts are often undermined by the illegal sale of fuel, a black-market trade involving some government officials.
The fuel shortage has had widespread consequences, affecting transportation, businesses, and essential services. Public transportation is becoming scarcer, and long queues at fuel stations are now a daily ordeal for drivers. Meanwhile, small and medium-sized enterprises reliant on fuel for operations are facing closures, exacerbating unemployment and poverty.
Despite these challenges, the government has vowed to combat the crisis by increasing crackdowns on fuel smuggling and illegal hoarding. However, these measures have yet to produce significant results, with demand for fuel far outstripping the limited supply.
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