Burundi President Pledges BIF 500 Million for Leads on Market Fire Suspects

Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye has announced a reward of BIF 500 million for anyone who helps identify or apprehend individuals responsible for a series of market fires that have devastated businesses across the country.

Speaking during end-of-month prayers organised by the ruling CNDD-FDD party in the political capital, Gitega, on Thursday, Ndayishimiye said the reward was approved by the government as authorities intensify efforts to identify those behind the recurring fires.

“We have agreed within the government that anyone who catches a person responsible for starting a fire will be rewarded with BIF 500 million,” the president said. “However, do not falsely accuse someone, because we will verify whether the accusation is true. We will conduct an investigation to establish the facts.”

Ndayishimiye warned that those found responsible for deliberately starting fires could be treated as terrorists and face severe penalties. He said the government was prepared to respond and urged members of the ruling party’s youth wing, the Imbonerakure, to remain vigilant.

“You may find that someone owns a kiosk and is the one who sets it on fire before leaving as the flames spread,” he said. “Do you think such a serious crime could happen without anyone having seen something?”

The president’s appeal comes amid an increase in market and commercial fires reported in Burundi since the beginning of 2026.

Among the latest incidents were fires that destroyed two shopping galleries, Le Parisien and Ndayizamba, in central Bujumbura last week. Vice-President Prosper Bazombanza reportedly suggested that a charcoal-burning iron could have been among the possible causes.

Earlier this week, Kinindo Market in southern Bujumbura was also engulfed by fire. The blaze reportedly started in the section where mattresses were sold, although the cause was not immediately established. Finance Minister Alain Ndikumana promised a thorough investigation.

The fires have left hundreds of traders and business owners counting heavy losses, while firefighters have struggled to contain some of the blazes.

Government critics and local rights groups have repeatedly accused authorities of failing to put in place adequate preventive measures and conduct thorough investigations into the recurring fires.

Urgent National Security Council Meeting

President Ndayishimiye’s remarks came hours after he convened an urgent meeting of the National Security Council at the presidential palace in Gitega to examine the causes of the incidents, identify those responsible and consider measures to prevent further fires.

“For several days, we have been witnessing repeated fire incidents without clearly knowing their causes or who is responsible,” Ndayishimiye said in his opening remarks. “This is particularly difficult because they often occur in places crowded with people, making it impossible to immediately identify the person who started the fire or determine its cause.”

The president also criticised people who celebrate or mock victims of the fires, describing such behaviour as unfortunate.

He linked the situation to the political climate surrounding elections, suggesting that some of the tensions had eased in recent months. He also alleged that government critics who fled Burundi following the 2015 political crisis, marked by mass protests and a failed military coup, could be involved in the market fires.

The National Security Council meeting followed a Cabinet meeting held on Thursday. According to the government, the 11-point agenda included compensation for people affected by the fires and strengthened preventive measures.

Authorities have yet to publicly announce the conclusions of the investigations into the latest incidents.