Massive power outage in Burundi : the country at a standstill, anger rising

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, August 8, 2025 – Since Wednesday, a widespread power outage has paralyzed several provinces in Burundi. From Bujumbura to Gitega, via Rumonge in Burunga, the economy is slowing down and anger is brewing. Regideso (Water and Electricity Agency) is reporting “work to connect the new Rubirizi substation to the 110 kV Gahongore-RN1 Substation transmission line.” The outages are expected to last until August 14, a prospect that worries and exasperates citizens.

A stifled local economy

The repercussions are immediate for the local economy. In Nyanza, in Burunga province, small businesses, hairdressers, printers, and other service providers are the first to be affected.

“I have to feed my family through my public secretariat. I can’t do it anymore because of the lack of electricity,” laments Aloys, who has lived in the neighborhood for several years.

In Bujumbura, offices without services

In the commercial capital, public services are running at a standstill. On Thursday morning, around fifty people waited in vain outside an administrative office.

“The offices are open, but no services are being offered,” complains a user, visibly frustrated by the wait.

Rumonge : generators down, perishable goods lost

In Rumonge in the southwest, the situation is turning into a nightmare for traders. The generators that were supposed to compensate for the power outage are also out of service due to the fuel shortage.

“No fuel, the generators aren’t working either. It’s pure downtime. Our milk is spoiled,” says a vendor in a downtown café.

Anger and urgent appeals in Gitega

In Gitega, the country’s political capital, complaints are pouring in. Many citizens are denouncing poor planning and insufficient communication.

“We can’t wait ten days in the dark. We need an urgent solution,” says a citizen contacted by SOS Médias Burundi.

A revealing outage

This massive outage highlights the fragility of Burundi’s power grid and the critical dependence of economic, social, and administrative activities on stable electricity. In many homes, candles have once again become the only way to light up the evenings.