Cibitoke : fuel traffic from the DRC on RN5

Fuel sellers who get their supplies from the Democratic Republic of Congo meet from the border of Cibitoke and Bubanza province on the 4th avenue in Nyamitanga in Buganda district, to the 1st avenue in Rukana, border of Ruhwa with Rwanda in Rugombo district from Cibitoke province (northwest Burundi). All along the National Road (RN5), Bujumbura-Rugombo, young people offer passers-by to buy black gold.

INFO SOS MédiasBurundi

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there is clearly no fuel problem.

“Here we have enormous quantities of gasoline and fuel oil that we sell at a competitive price. So no longer expose yourself to stupid breakdowns,” says a young fuel fraudster from Nyamitanga village who regularly refuels in Congo.

Same story from his comrade who indicates that thousands of liters of gasoline pass through the Rusizi (river separating Burundi and the DRC) during the night.

According to him, a 20 liter container in Congo can be bought for 150,000 Burundi francs and is sold once on the Burundian soil for 210,000 francs. From there, we can make a profit of 40,000 at once after subtracting the transport cost which amounts to 20 thousand, and we can make several shuttles, which is very pleasing to him, he gets his supplies easily from petrol stations and the Congolese work well together.

On site, as we observed, fuel sells for 15 thousand Burundi francs for a liter and a half and the black market attracts many customers.

“I often get supplies from these street traders and they help us a lot. Last time, my vehicle ran out of fuel and I was easily able to get a few liters of gasoline to continue my journey,” rejoices a driver who often travels from Kayanza to Bujumbura via Cibitoke province.

Residents of this province, transporters and even fuel traffickers are asking the government to officially open the borders to them in order to get supplies more easily in DR Congo.

Even on the other side of the Rusizi, the motorcycle taxi riders who facilitate the transport of black gold welcome the intense movements of Burundians in search of fuel because, according to them, this brings in a lot of money. money.

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Part of the area where traffickers pass to get supplies from Congo