Burunga : between survival and danger, communities living along Lake Tanganyika face wild animal attacks

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, April 28, 2026 — In Burunga province, in the south of the small East African nation, particularly on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Nyanza-Lac and around Rumonge, communities are living in increasing insecurity due to the presence of wild animals. Crocodile and hippopotamus attacks are on the rise, endangering residents who depend on the lake daily for their livelihoods.

On the shores of Lake Tanganyika, every day can turn into a tragedy. In Nyanza-Lac, in Burunga province, residents now live with constant fear : the fear of being attacked by a crocodile or a hippopotamus while performing the simplest daily tasks.

On Tuesday evening, April 21, 2026, in Rimbo village, an 18-year-old man narrowly escaped death after being violently attacked by a crocodile while cutting grass to feed livestock, around 6:00 PM.

According to several witnesses at the scene, the victim was near the riverbank when a crocodile suddenly appeared and violently seized him. Alerted by his cries, local residents rushed to the scene and, by making noise, managed to frighten the animal, which released its prey. The young man, seriously injured in the legs and side, was rushed to the Nyanza-Lac District Hospital, where he is receiving intensive care. His condition remains serious but stable, according to local sources.

The local authorities in Rimbo confirmed the incident and praised the residents’ swift response, without which the outcome could have been fatal.

A series of increasingly worrying attacks

This tragedy is not an isolated incident. Two weeks ago, another teenager was seriously injured in the same region after a hippopotamus attack. More recently, fishermen, women, and children fetching water also encountered aggressive animals in the districts of Nyanza and Rumonge.

This surge is causing serious concern among local residents, who denounce the insecurity that has become almost a daily occurrence on the lake’s shores.

An increasingly visible environmental pressure

Beyond the accidents, residents also cite environmental degradation as an aggravating factor. The destruction of natural habitats, the occupation of the riverbanks, and the expansion of human activities are reducing the living spaces of wildlife, increasing the likelihood of dangerous encounters between humans and animals.

A vital dependence on the Lake

Despite the risks, those living along its shores often have no alternative. Lake Tanganyika remains their primary source of water, fishing, and agricultural activities. The lack of drinking water infrastructure and safe sites still forces women and children to expose themselves to dangers daily, sometimes early in the morning or late at night.

Still limited solutions

Local authorities are urging caution, but on the ground, measures remain insufficient. Residents are pleading for concrete solutions, including safe water points, the development of protected areas, and strengthened prevention measures.

In Burunga Province, Lake Tanganyika thus remains both an essential source of life and a constant source of danger for the communities living along its shores.