Bujumbura: who plants grenades at the Ruvumera market?

Street traders are no longer welcome inside the large Ruvumera market situated in the Buyenzi zone in the commercial city of Bujumbura since this Wednesday. Merchants will also have to use only two doors to get in and only one gate to get out. A decision made this Wednesday after explosive devices were found planted in this market and the arrest of a man in possession of grenades, according to our sources. But so far, Burundian authorities remain silent on the perpetrators. On May 2 , the same place was partially burnt following grenades placed in electrical cabins. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The suspect who held the grenades whose number is still undetermined according to our sources, was arrested Tuesday evening not far from the Ruvumera market.

“He was taken to a police cell. He revealed his collaborators and his bosses,” said a trader from Ruvumera.

The identity of this man has not been specified. But this Wednesday morning, the occupants of the Ruvumera market had this confirmation when they found it closed. When it opened around 7:30 a.m., they were allowed in around 11 a.m. The market commissioner, Éric Baseka, brought together traders to talk to them about the new rules.

“From now on, traders will have to use two gates located to the west of the market to enter and use a single exit located in the east. No more itinerant traders in the streets of the market, even the Maasai authorized to do this type of trade across all the East African community are banned, No exceptions,” insisted Éric Baseka in a meeting to which journalists, including those from RTNB (National Radio and Television of Burundi) did not attend. The commissioner and police officials wanted only colleagues from public media to participate, which they refused in solidarity with their colleagues from private and independent media.

Who really planted these grenades?

This Wednesday, traders reassured that grenades were placed at stands and that they were discovered.

“None exploded.”

It is difficult to know exactly who really planted these explosive weapons. On May 2, a fire targeted this market. The civil protection police quickly intervened. According to our sources, the fire was caused by explosive devices placed in electrical cabins. The same explosive devices were installed in electrical cabins in the north of the economic capital. Police only reported this when explosions targeted the main bus parking lot in the commercial city. Again, no word on the Ruvumera explosions.
https://www.sosmediasburundi.org/2024/05/11/attack-de-bujumbura-les-autorites-burundaises-ont-dresse-le-bilan-officiel-et-accuse-le-rwanda-de-nouveau/

A local journalist who tried to take images of the fire was arrested and detained by Burundian intelligence.

Some traders suspect acts of revenge, which are difficult for them to contain. They speak of a result of a decision by the Burundian authorities aimed at withdrawing the right from the former owners of the stands to rent them to individuals.

“These former owners invested a lot because they would have to pay to the town hall every time there were renovations at the market. We suspect that they want to take revenge because the town hall gave the tenants the right to own the stands. “There were no complaints even though it was the government that allowed this system to take hold,” say traders.

According to traders, “among the stall owners who were chased away are political and security authorities.”

The decision to withdraw, from the former owners, the right to rent their stands to individuals was influenced by Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye who believes that “these are commission agents who must be fought because they enrich themselves on the backs of Burundian citizens and the government”.

Ruvumera remains among the iconic ancient markets in the small East African nation. It was modernized thanks to the support of donors and contributions from traders.