Gitega plunged into darkness : power and drinking water outages paralyze the city

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, August 12, 2025 – Since last week, the city of Gitega, the political capital of the small east African nation, has been plunged into darkness. Repeated power outages have paralyzed daily activities, exacerbated by a 56-month fuel crisis that has prevented generators from operating due to a lack of funding for essential fuel. This situation is causing serious economic and social hardship for residents.

For several days, the residents of Gitega have been experiencing repeated power outages, leading to serious economic and social consequences. Shopkeepers, artisans, and families are all affected.

For some, the loss is immediate and quantifiable.

“Since last Friday, I have been forced to throw away at least 50 liters of milk per day, a loss of 150,000 Burundi francs.” “I can no longer satisfy my evening customers and I fear losing their trust,” laments a milk vendor from the 2nd Avenue, Nyamugari neighborhood, who prefers to remain anonymous.

Artisans are also suffering.

“When customers come during the day, there’s no electricity. In recent days, I’ve even had trouble treating my sick son due to the lack of income. I had to borrow to get by,” confides a welder from the 3rd Avenue in the same neighborhood.

In the service sector, the situation is just as critical.

“If this continues, I won’t be able to buy school supplies for my four children. My boss can’t afford a generator, and even if he could, where would he find the fuel?” says a hairdresser in the city center.

The power outage is also affecting the drinking water supply. The Nyanzari pumping station, which supplies the city, is shut down, depriving several neighborhoods of water and raising fears of a rise in hygiene-related diseases.

Faced with this crisis, residents of Gitega who spoke to SOS Médias Burundi say they fear it will worsen if nothing is done.