Photo of the week – Bujumbura faces a critical lack of public latrines : residents denounce a fine deemed unfair

A new government measure sparks anger among residents of the commercial capital. Since the publication of a joint decree by the Ministers of Finance and the Interior, dated October 9, 2025, anyone caught urinating or defecating in a public place without designated facilities is subject to a fine of 5,000 Burundi francs.

This decision has been met with strong disapproval from a population that denounces the near-total absence of public toilets in the city.

“It’s astonishing to see the state imposing a fine while it doesn’t provide any alternative solutions,” laments a shopkeeper in the city center.

For many city residents, the measure is considered unfair and premature. They believe that before imposing sanctions, the government should build latrines accessible to the public.

“The construction of public toilets should be a priority to address this problem,” argues a regular visitor to the capital.

The current situation forces many people to relieve themselves in inappropriate places due to the lack of sufficient infrastructure. The few public toilets installed by individuals are fee-based, with a price that can reach 500 Burundi francs per use, a cost deemed excessive by users.

This lack of sanitation infrastructure poses a risk to public health and undermines the city’s efforts to improve urban cleanliness. Residents are therefore calling on the authorities to reconsider the measure and invest first in the construction of public latrines before imposing penalties.

In the meantime, the population of Bujumbura continues to struggle between the need to respect the law and the glaring lack of spaces suitable for their basic needs.

Our photo : street children play in a corner of the capital where they relieve themselves due to the lack of public latrines