Rumonge : a wave of arrests of traders accused of speculating on Brarudi products

SOS Médias Burundi

Rumonge, July 27, 2025 – Law enforcement continues its hunt for speculators in products from the Burundi Brewery Factory (Brarudi) in Burunga province, in the south of the country. Following the arrest of a well-known trader in Rumonge district on Thursday evening, four other people were arrested on Friday in the town of Rumonge and in the center of Kizuka.

The first suspect, Audace Mbazumutima, alias Magara, was arrested in the town center of Muzenga village. He is accused of selling Brarudi drinks at prices higher than the official prices. According to the testimonies collected, for example, he was selling a 72 cl bottle of Amstel for 5,500 Burundi francs instead of 5,000 francs. Furthermore, he was offering drinks at retail prices between 3,000 and 3,500 francs before they even arrived at the distribution depots. During the operation, the police seized a large stock : 199 crates of 72 cl Primus, 22 crates of 65 cl Amstel, 72 full crates of Fanta, as well as 78 empty crates, without mentioning the transport vehicle.

The following day, Friday, the police arrested four other traders – two men and two women – in the Birimba and Rukinga neighborhoods, as well as in the Kizuka zone. They are accused of charging prices ranging from 4,000 to 5,000 francs for a 72 cl bottle, well above the official price. Their stocks were also seized.

The five suspects are currently held in police custody in Rumonge. They are expected to be tried in flagrante delicto, in accordance with the directives of the Minister of the Interior, Community Development, and Public Security, Martin Niteretse. At a recent security meeting in Muyinga, in the northeast of the country, the latter ordered not only the arrest of traders involved in the speculation, but also the arrest of local authorities in the areas where the seizures will take place, if they turn a blind eye to these practices. The minister described these activities as “evil” and insisted that the seized goods be auctioned for the benefit of the state.

This crackdown comes amid a persistent imbalance between supply and demand on the domestic market. Many regions of Burundi, even large cities and shopping centers, experience recurring shortages of Brarudi products. Some localities can go several weeks without supplies. According to several sources, Brarudi is now prioritizing the export of part of its production—particularly old 65 cl Amstel bottles, small formats, and certain soft drinks—to earn foreign currency, to the detriment of the local market.

This imbalance is fueling soaring prices and creating fertile ground for speculation, much to the dismay of consumers. While waiting for a lasting solution, the authorities are increasing their crackdowns, determined to punish traders and administration officials deemed complicit, while Burundians continue to suffer the consequences of this supply crisis.