Burundi : Colonel Arakaza jailed for fuel trafficking and attempted murder, a shock for impunity in the police

SOS Médias Burundi

Bururi, August 19, 2025 — Police Colonel Moïse Arakaza, nicknamed Nyeganyega, was arrested in Bujumbura and then transferred to Bururi central prison, in Burunga province in the south of the country. He is prosecuted for undermining the proper functioning of the national economy and attempted murder, reigniting the debate on impunity within the Burundian security forces.

A senior officer caught up in the justice system

The arrest of Colonel Arakaza, a controversial figure in the Burundian police, surprised many observers. According to judicial sources, he was arrested on Thursday, August 14 in the commercial capital, before being transferred under warrant from the public prosecutor’s office to the Bururi Court of Appeal. Since Monday, August 18, he has been detained at Bururi central prison.

On Tuesday, August 19, Colonel Arakaza was questioned by the Deputy Prosecutor General at the Bururi Court of Appeal, which resulted in the confirmation of his detention. He has officially been a resident of Bururi central prison since this afternoon.

Colonel Arakaza faces two charges : undermining the proper functioning of the national economy and attempted murder. His two close associates, suspected of being part of the smuggling network, were imprisoned at Murembwe central prison, in Rumonge (same province). They were sentenced to one year in prison, among other things.

Before their arrest, Colonel Arakaza and his co-defendants were transporting fuel estimated at approximately 500 liters. The small east African nation has been facing a fuel crisis for 56 months. Several officials have engaged in the illicit sale of fuel from the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Tanzania, with black market prices reaching up to five times the official price. Administration and police officials have been arrested in recent years for similar offenses, before being released, sometimes under unclear circumstances, and reassigned to other positions.

Last Sunday, the officer’s home was searched and several items were reportedly seized, but no official communication has been made regarding these seizures, as well as those at the homes of two motorcycle taxi riders, his neighbors. Colonel Arakaza, who lives with two women under the same roof, is believed to be hiding fuel purchased in neighboring Tanzania at his home, according to local authorities in Nyanza district, Burunga province.

A past marked by heavy suspicions

This is not the first time that Colonel Arakaza’s name has been linked to murky affairs. The civil society and residents have accused him for years of orchestrating violence, kidnappings, and other abuses. But until now, no serious legal proceedings have resulted.

“Too often, officers suspected of serious crimes escape punishment. This time, he must truly answer for his actions,” confided a Bururi resident, summarizing the anger shared by many citizens.

A trial under close surveillance

Beyond the individual case, the Arakaza case highlights the parallel economic networks linked to fuel trafficking and calls into question the ability of the Burundian justice system to resist political and security pressures. The civil society and the local population are awaiting an exemplary verdict. “A courageous judgment would send a strong signal against impunity,” insist several human rights organizations.

The next legal steps will be closely monitored, as the case could set a precedent in the fight against impunity for senior officers in Burundi.