Malawi : six members of a Burundian family perish in a fire at the Dzaleka camp

SOS Médias Burundi

Dzaleka, October 21, 2026 — A couple and their four children perished in a fire that ravaged their home overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday in the Katuza area of ​​the Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi. While the exact circumstances of the tragedy remain unknown, the police have opened an investigation. Unconfirmed reports suggest the possibility of arson, plunging the Burundian community in the camp into fear and despair.

The father was a well-known merchant in the camp, where he ran a shop and offered mobile money transfer services. The family, originally from Burundi, had been living in Dzaleka for more than seven years.

According to initial reports, neighbors attempted to rescue them, but the fire had already spread while the occupants slept.

An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the tragedy

The origin of the fire remains unknown. Police have opened an investigation to establish the circumstances of this tragedy. The bodies of the six victims have been transferred to the Dowa District Hospital in the Central Region of Malawi, where the Dzaleka refugee camp is located, for necessary procedures and potential forensic investigations.

Information attributed to sources close to the investigation, but which remains to be verified, suggests suspicions of arson. According to these sources, the six victims were found “in the same place, in a single room, even though they did not all sleep together.”

Other unconfirmed accounts suggest that the victims were beaten before their home was set on fire using a flammable substance, possibly gasoline.

These allegations have not yet been officially confirmed by the authorities. They will need to be verified during the police investigation.

Furthermore, a neighbor who reportedly spent the evening before the tragedy with one of the victims at a bar was arrested by the police for questioning. The precise reasons for this arrest and the individual’s status have not yet been officially established.

The Burundian community in shock

The tragedy has plunged the Burundian community of Dzaleka into deep consternation. Its representative in the camp is trying to reassure residents, while deploring the recurring criminal incidents which, according to him, continue to threaten the safety of Burundian refugees.

According to neighbors, the deceased family had good relations with their community. These accounts make the tragedy more painful for the residents of the Katuza area, who are trying to understand what could have happened.

Beyond the grief of the bereaved, this tragedy reignites concerns about security within the camp. Residents deplore recurring acts of crime and demand more effective protection measures for those living there.

While awaiting the results of the investigation, the Burundian community remains in shock and hopes that the authorities will quickly shed light on the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the six members of this family.

At this stage, it remains impossible to determine whether the fire was accidental or arson. Only the findings of the investigation will establish the facts and, if necessary, identify those responsible.

Located in the Dowa district of central Malawi, the Dzaleka refugee camp hosts more than 50,000 people, including over 11,000 Burundians, according to figures released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This tragedy once again raises the issue of refugee safety and protection against violence and criminal acts.

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The Burundian refugee couple who perished in a fire with their four children at the Dzaleka camp in the Dowa district of central Malawi (DR/SOS Médias Burundi)