Rumonge : about twenty traders including two police officers arrested

They were arrested on Monday. They are all sellers of Brarudi products, in the town center of Rumonge province (southwest Burundi). According to our sources, these traders are accused of speculating on the prices of products from the only brewery in Burundi. The local administration has not yet communicated on the case.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

At least 20 traders of Brarudi products (Burundi Brewery Company) were arrested on Monday in the city of Rumonge. They are accused of speculating on the prices of beers and soft drinks.

According to our sources in Rumonge, these traders hid the products to sell them at an exorbitant price.

“They sold Amstel blonde for between 5 and 8 thousand francs, the price of Primus was set at 5000 francs,” say residents. The official price of these products is successively 3500 and 2500 Burundi francs.

The same sources speak of a list of traders who should be arrested.

Among those arrested are two police officers. The arrested were sent to the local police cells.

The local authority has not yet communicated on this case.

The arrest of these traders follows the letter of the minister responsible for internal affairs, dated November 22, 2024. Martin Niteretse reminded his subordinates to respect the prices of sugar and other products. But local observers believe that it is very difficult to enforce official prices in a context of fuel shortages, with traders being forced to buy fuel on the black market to fill their vehicle tanks or pay very exorbitant transport costs to transporters who also resort to the black market to get this very rare commodity.

Three of the 20 traders were released on Wednesday afternoon after paying an administrative fine of one million Burundi francs each.

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Sellers of Brarudi products looking for drinks in the town of Rumonge (SOS Médias Burundi)