Blackout in Bujumbura : Regideso’s negligence brings the city to its knees

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, August 8, 2025 – For more than 48 hours, the commercial capital of Burundi has been in slow motion. A widespread power outage has plunged Bujumbura into a crisis situation that is profoundly affecting services, businesses, and the daily lives of the population. Everywhere, there is nothing but the hum of generators, queues at the few places with electricity, and faces marked by exhaustion and worry.

Banks, internet cafes, offices, shops… everything is virtually paralyzed. Some financial institutions have issued statements apologizing to their customers, explaining that they are unable to provide their services due to the lack of power. In some neighborhoods, the outages have been complete since Thursday morning; In others, electricity is on and off, jeopardizing household appliances and professional equipment.

Limited use of generators

Faced with this crisis, the population is trying as best they can to adapt by relying on generators. But this solution quickly runs out of steam : fuel is scarce, generators are breaking down, and costs are becoming unbearable for both households and businesses. Even telecommunications companies are struggling to power their installations, leading to a virtual breakdown of communications in several areas.

A late announcement from Regideso

In a press release published on August 1, Regideso, the national electricity company, informed the population that disruptions were expected in four provinces, including Bujumbura, from August 4 to 14, 2025. The cause : activities to connect a new substation. No detailed information was provided on alternatives or support measures. Regideso simply asked users to “take the necessary measures,” leaving citizens to fend for themselves.

A population in distress

In the streets of the city center, residents wandered around with their phones in their hands, searching for the slightest charging point. Conversations had become rare, networks were weakening, and uncertainty was growing. “How are we going to survive for ten days in this situation?” wondered a downtown merchant, especially since power outages were already frequent before this prolonged outage.

A call for responsiveness from the authorities

Faced with this crisis, the population is waiting for concrete measures. Many are calling for better communication, an emergency plan, and logistical support, particularly fuel, to keep essential infrastructure running.

In the meantime, Bujumbura remains under the reign of generators, in an electric silence that speaks volumes about the fragility of its energy infrastructure. The country’s economic heartland, the capital is home to United Nations agencies, the central government, and most of the services essential to daily life.