Ndayizamba and Le Parisien shopping malls in ashes : families ruined, debts piling up

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, August 24, 2026 — The devastating fire that ravaged the Ndayizamba and Le Parisien shopping malls in downtown Bujumbura, Burundi’s commercial capital and the country’s commercial heart, on Friday, August 21, has left behind merchants without merchandise, families without income, and debts that will still have to be repaid.

On Monday, while the rubble from the fire that occurred on Friday, August 21, was still being monitored, a new fire reportedly broke out in the two malls, according to witnesses who claim to have seen smoke still rising from the ruins.

Journalists who wanted to take pictures of the scene were prevented from accessing it by riot police, who are responsible for security at the site.

Reporters also observed the permanent presence of a fire truck near the two shopping arcades.

For many shopkeepers, the fire represents not only the destruction of merchandise, but also the loss of their main source of income and the collapse of family projects.

Among the victims is a widow who had just taken out a loan of 500 million Burundian francs to launch her own business. She had previously resigned from her job at the Commercial Bank of Burundi (BANCOBU) to dedicate herself to her business and better provide for her children.

Today, she says she is devastated. Between repaying the loan and supporting her family, she worries about the future of her household.

“Words fail me to describe my situation,” she confides, still in shock.

Florine I. is another victim. She had a stall in the Ndayizamba arcade, where she sold women’s handbags and dresses. She had worked in the mall for several years, having started out selling children’s clothing.

For her, the fire has taken a significant part of her life.

“I’ve been self-employed for a long time. I don’t see how I’m going to manage. Only God knows,” she says, worried.

A young couple who worked together in the Le Parisien mall also lost everything. Their business was their sole source of income and provided for their family.

“We are completely devastated. It’s our only livelihood and our only way to support our family,” they say.

With the start of the school year approaching, their worries are even greater. They now hope to be able to count on the solidarity and help of kind-hearted people.

Another family, already struggling with illness, has also suffered heavy losses. Gapine, the nickname of a cosmetics salesman in one of the Le Parisien mall’s shops, finds himself without his main source of income.

His wife suffers from venous thrombosis, and the income from his business covered the family’s needs as well as the expenses related to her illness.

The destruction of his business therefore comes at a particularly difficult time for this family.

Beyond the material losses, the victims face profound uncertainty about their future. The exact circumstances of the fire, as well as those of the new fire reported on Monday, remain to be determined.

Those interviewed are now calling for solidarity, support, and measures to allow the affected businesses to gradually resume operations.