Rumonge : a mineral processing site under heavy military surveillance in Mutambara

SOS Médias Burundi

Rumonge, April 21, 2026 — For over two years, a mineral processing site has been operating with near-total secrecy in Mutambara village, in the district of Rumonge, Burunga Province, in southwestern Burundi. Shrouded in mystery, this complex is under strict military surveillance, fueling questions and speculation among the local population.

Strictly controlled access

According to several reliable sources in Mutambara, access to the site is severely restricted. Even local administrative officials do not have free access.

“One day, a district official tried to pass by the site, but the soldiers guarding it refused him entry. He tried to explain, but to no avail,” a source on the ground confided.

This closure is fueling a climate of suspicion surrounding the activities taking place there, especially since no official statement has been made regarding the exact nature of the project or its economic impact on the local area and the country.

A constant stream of military trucks

According to a source within the defense forces, the site is marked by a regular coming and going of military trucks.

“These trucks enter and leave the site. They bring in raw ore from the Democratic Republic of Congo and leave with refined ore,” the source stated, adding that the trucks head from Rumonge to Bujumbura, the commercial capital where the United Nations agencies and the administration are concentrated, and where the small East African nation’s only airport is located, via the National Road number 3 (RN3).

These constant back-and-forth movements suggest the existence of a cross-border supply chain involving minerals from the DRC, a country rich in natural resources and in the east of which the Burundian army is engaged alongside the FARDC, the Congolese loyalist army, and the Wazalendo militias supported by Kinshasa.

Management at the top of the military hierarchy

According to security sources, the site is under the direct responsibility of high-ranking army officers. A recent incident illustrates the level of sensitivity surrounding the operations.

A Tanzanian national, employed at the site, was held in pretrial detention at the Rumonge provincial police station for nearly six months.

“The order to detain this worker came from the Chief of Staff himself, General Prime Niyongabo, accusing him of being involved in the disappearance of a machine part,” a police source revealed.

This case highlights the strict control exerted over workers and the chain of command involved in managing the site.

Between opacity and local concerns

The lack of transparency surrounding this mineral processing site is raising concerns among residents of Mutambara and the surrounding area. Between access restrictions, an increased military presence, and unusual logistical flows, the activities taking place there remain shrouded in secrecy.

While Burundi seeks to develop its natural resources, this site could represent a major economic opportunity. But in the absence of official information, it remains primarily a source of questions for both local residents and observers.