Ruyigi : warning shots fired at the Busuma site during Eid al-Adha celebrations

SOS Médias Burundi

Ruyigi, May 28, 2026 – Warning shots were heard on the evening of Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Busuma Congolese refugee site in Ruyigi district, Buhumuza province, eastern Burundi, as thousands of Muslims celebrated Eid al-Adha, also known as Eid el-Kebir or the Feast of Sacrifice, one of the most important holidays in the Islamic calendar.

From the early hours of the day, the atmosphere was marked by collective prayers, religious chants, and family gatherings organized throughout the site. According to several residents, more than a hundred head of cattle had been slaughtered to allow Muslim families to share the meat in accordance with the Islamic tradition.

But the situation became tense during the distribution. According to several witnesses, non-Muslim refugees also tried to take advantage of the meat distribution, leading to arguments and altercations between groups of refugees.

Faced with the growing confusion and tensions observed around the distribution points, police officers responsible for site security reportedly intervened to disperse the crowd. Warning shots were then fired into the air to restore order and prevent an escalation of violence.

A Muslim refugee, who requested anonymity, told SOS Médias Burundi :

“We came to celebrate our holiday in peace. After the prayer, we started to share the meat as our religion dictates. But many people rushed to take meat even though they weren’t part of the organized distribution.” This sparked arguments, and the police began firing into the air to calm the situation.

Despite the panic caused by the explosions, no loss of life was reported, according to several local sources. However, some refugees claim that several families fled the area in fear and that the celebrations ended in a highly tense atmosphere.

In Burundi, May 27, 2026, was declared a public holiday for Eid al-Adha, celebrated by a portion of the country’s Muslim community.

A site under tension for several months

The Busuma site is hosting tens of thousands of Congolese refugees who fled fighting and insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo between December 2025 and January 2026. The majority of them are from South Kivu province, which borders Burundi.

Living conditions at this site remain difficult, according to refugees and several humanitarian actors. Tensions and clashes between refugees and security forces are regularly reported.

During previous holiday periods, incidents had already erupted surrounding the distribution of humanitarian aid. Humanitarian workers were notably targeted by refugees dissatisfied with the distribution conditions and the lack of food.

Recently, Burundian and Congolese authorities, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), have begun a still limited process of voluntary repatriation of some Congolese refugees to their places of origin, despite the persistent insecurity in several areas of eastern Congo.

A festival of sacrifice and sharing

Eid al-Adha, also called Eid el-Kebir or the Feast of Sacrifice, is the most important festival in the Islamic calendar. It commemorates the act of faith of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), who was willing to sacrifice his son in obedience to God before a sheep was offered in his place, according to the Muslim tradition.

This celebration is marked by collective prayers, the ritual slaughter of animals, and the sharing of the meat with relatives, neighbors, and the needy. It symbolizes solidarity, forgiveness, and mutual support within Muslim communities.