Rumonge : power cuts paralyze economic and school activities

SOS Médias Burundi

Rumonge, September 21, 2026 — Repeated power cuts are severely disrupting economic and school activities in the port city of Rumonge, in Burunga province in southwestern Burundi. For over a month, many businesses that rely on electricity have been operating at a reduced capacity or have completely shut down.

Welders, mill owners, cafeterias, soap factories, hair and beauty salons, public offices, as well as some banks and microfinance institutions are among the sectors most affected. According to residents, downtown Rumonge receives power from Regideso (the national water utility) for only one to two hours a day.

Some business owners say their operations have been paralyzed for nearly six weeks. They say they are suffering significant losses and struggling to provide for their families, pay their employees’ salaries, and cover their rent.

The situation particularly affects low-income households that rely on small businesses powered by electricity. These residents are asking Regideso (the national water utility) to take measures to restore a regular electricity supply.

Using generators is expensive.

Banks and microfinance institutions are trying to maintain their services using generators. However, this solution is hampered by the fuel shortage that has persisted in Burundi for nearly six years.

Stakeholders in the sector indicate that some institutions are forced to purchase fuel on the black market. The price there is particularly high and varies depending on the vendor. A liter and a half can cost between 18,000 and 25,000 Burundian francs, more than six times the official price, which significantly increases the operating costs of the institutions concerned.

Boarding Schools Facing Darkness

Power outages are also affecting some boarding schools. At high schools like Lycée Rumonge and Lycée Al Maktoum, school officials say the lack of lighting makes supervising students difficult during the night.

Boarding students are not always able to complete their study sessions in the evening. School officials also explain that they are forced to send students back to their dormitories earlier than usual to mitigate the difficulties of nighttime supervision.

They fear this situation will impact learning and academic performance during this first term.

A problem that goes beyond Rumonge

The situation in Rumonge is not an isolated case. In this small East African nation, towns and cities regularly face power outages, affecting households, businesses, public services, and schools alike.