Bujumbura : fuel crisis, state vehicles join public transport

Burundi is experiencing an unprecedented fuel crisis. Consequences are enormous on citizens in general and more particularly inhabitants of the commercial capital, Bujumbura. In the parking lots, an unusual situation is observed : state vehicles which are not of the public transport sector but which participate in the transport of passengers in return for payment of transport costs, but which are higher, according to passengers.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The continuing fuel shortage leads to new facets of the situation on a daily basis. In certain parking lots, drivers of state vehicles come to pick up customers. But passengers are complaining. According to them, drivers of these vehicles demand too high amounts.

“Are you willing to pay X amount? It is drivers of state vehicles that ask such a question. If it’s a pick-up, those sitting inside do not pay the same amount like those who are behind”, say city dwellers, in despair.

“I prefer to go inside even if the price becomes high. We pay between three and five thousand francs. Whoever rides behind pays two thousand. But it’s often in bad conditions, there are more than 50 people,” testifies a young lady interviewed.

The latter also indicates that the money is collected only a few meters from the place of departure to avoid leaks along the way or among those behind, some being able to jump without paying once they arrive at their destination.

For Gabriel Rufyiri, representative of the Observatory for the fight against corruption and economic embezzlement, Olucome, “this situation is unacceptable, these vehicles transport people like they load fish and worse still, they are not insured to do the paid transport, which amounts to endangering the lives of passengers.

The activist has written to the head of state twice since the start of the year. In his recent letter (9 pages) to Évariste Ndayishimiye dated April 4, 2024, he raised this question, in vain.

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Illustration photo : the main parking lot of the commercial capital Bujumbura, without buses