Murembwe Prison : food shortages recur, inmates forced to rely on their families

SOS Médias Burundi

Rumonge, November 11, 2026 — Inmates at Murembwe Central Prison, located in the port town of Rumonge, Burunga Province, in southwestern Burundi, are facing another shortage of food and firewood. This is the second supply disruption recorded at the facility in the space of two months, following the one of last September.

According to prison sources, flour reserves have been depleted for nearly two months, while beans have been unavailable for about two weeks. Firewood, essential for preparing meals, has also been lacking for almost two weeks.

This situation further complicates the living conditions of the inmates. Those with financial means or whose families can provide assistance are asking relatives for help or buying food outside the prison to supplement the meals distributed by the facility.

The previous shortage, reported in September, had already raised concerns among inmates and their families. The Directorate General of Penitentiary Affairs then sent limited quantities of flour, beans, and firewood. However, this intervention did not prevent another supply disruption.

This situation arises against a backdrop of persistent difficulties in Burundian prisons, including overcrowding and the limitations of the measures considered to alleviate overcrowding in prisons.

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Families of prisoners are deploring the recurring shortages. They believe that the regular supply of food and firewood is the responsibility of the prison authorities and should not depend on the financial means of the prisoners or their relatives.

They are calling on the relevant authorities to take sustainable measures to ensure the availability of food and fuel at Murembwe Prison, in order to prevent prisoners from regularly facing such hardships.

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Inmates inside Murembwe Central Prison during an official ceremony. The facility regularly faces problems of overcrowding and difficult detention conditions, according to several sources (SOS Médias Burundi)