Disappearances, assaults, robberies : Canga Canga taxis plunge passengers into fear in Bujumbura

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, October 7, 2026 — The disappearance of Divine Ingabire after taking a Canga Canga shared taxi has reignited concerns among some passengers in Bujumbura, particularly women. These vehicles, which have become increasingly numerous in Burundi’s commercial capital due to persistent difficulties with public transportation and fuel shortages, are now at the heart of new concerns related to passenger safety.

Canga Canga shared taxis are causing growing anxiety among some users in Bujumbura, Burundi’s commercial capital, where a large portion of the country’s commercial activities, services, government offices, international organizations, and institutions are concentrated.

Divine Ingabire disappeared Tuesday evening after taking a Canga Canga shared taxi in the city center heading towards Kinama, in the north of the city. She was found on Wednesday in the Rukoko Natural Reserve, near the town of Gihanga, not far from the commercial capital, Bujumbura.

According to reports, the young woman had left a church in the city center before getting into a taxi. She then noticed some individuals in the vehicle whom she suspected of having ill intentions. She reportedly sent a message to her family to warn them before her phone became unreachable.

She was eventually found by a shepherd and taken to the hospital. According to the same reports, she arrived in tears and was unable to speak. However, she did not appear to have any visible injuries.

This disappearance has reignited concerns among some users about Canga Canga taxis, as these vehicles are playing an increasingly important role in daily travel in Bujumbura.

Their growing use is largely due to the ongoing difficulties in the public transportation sector. Fuel shortages regularly reduce the number of buses operating in the commercial capital, forcing many residents to seek alternative means of transportation to get to work, home, or to different parts of the city.

For some, the Canga Canga taxis offer a more readily available alternative to buses. The principle of shared transportation also allows multiple passengers to split the cost of the journey, making these vehicles accessible to people who cannot regularly afford private transport.

Bujumbura is the epicenter of this demand. As the commercial capital and largest city of Burundi, it is home to a significant portion of the country’s commercial activities, services, government offices, international organizations, and institutions. Many residents of outlying neighborhoods need to travel daily to the city center and major business hubs, maintaining a high demand for transportation.

However, this rise in the popularity of Canga Canga taxis is also accompanied by concerns about passenger safety.

About five months ago, a woman returning home to Kanyosha, south of Bujumbura, reportedly took a taxi before being found unconscious in a ditch. According to her statement given after she regained consciousness in a local hospital, she had been raped. She also indicated that her money and phone had not been stolen.

Another woman was also reportedly robbed after taking a taxi to Gasekebuye, in the same part of the city. According to her statement, she found herself in the taxi with individuals who stole her money and rings.

These accounts, like the disappearance of Divine Ingabire, fuel the fears of some users, particularly women who rely on shared taxis daily for their transportation.

However, they do not, on their own, establish that Canga Canga taxis, as a means of transport, are responsible for these events. Nevertheless, they raise questions about the conditions under which some vehicles are used and about the control and security mechanisms intended to protect passengers.

For many residents of Bujumbura, Canga Canga taxis represent both a necessity and a source of anxiety. As long as public transportation remains inadequate and fuel supply difficulties persist, their role is likely to continue to grow.

The disappearance and subsequent discovery of Divine Ingabire have thus reignited concerns among some users about safety on public transportation, especially for women who must travel daily in Burundi’s commercial capital.