By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
A catastrophic fire at a Burundi National Defence Force ammunition depot in Bujumbura has left 13 people dead and 57 others injured. The incident began late Tuesday in the Musaga suburb. Massive explosions followed a fire triggered by an electrical short circuit. Army spokesperson General Gaspard Baratuza confirmed the cause in a formal statement. This tragedy has devastated the surrounding community and destroyed vital military infrastructure.
Urban Center Faces Extensive Infrastructure Damage
The explosions occurred in a densely populated area adjacent to the Higher Institute for Military Cadres. This facility houses and trains the nation’s future army officers. The blast radius extended deep into residential zones, with projectiles reportedly landing as far as 10 kilometers away and near the national radio broadcaster. The explosions reverberated across the city, sending plumes of smoke into the sky and prompting terrified residents to seek shelter. “Houses were damaged in various neighbourhoods as well as private vehicles. Military equipment and facilities burned and were destroyed,” General Baratuza said. The resulting inferno also severed power to the camp and several neighboring districts.
Emergency Response Hampered by Resource Deficits
Firefighters faced immediate obstacles as they attempted to contain the blaze on Tuesday night. A senior police officer at the scene reported that efforts were slowed by a severe water shortage. He described a “massive inferno” that left the area in ruins. The officer noted that the “base camp was reduced to ashes” during the height of the crisis. The fire reportedly consumed not only heavy weaponry but also a significant stockpile of medicines, food supplies, and thousands of mattresses intended for
distribution. Even by Wednesday afternoon, visible fire and smoke continued to rise from the wreckage.
A Six-Hour Barrage of Projectiles
The scale of the disaster was magnified by the duration of the incident. One Bujumbura resident who lives nearby told Reuters that the explosions lasted for several hours. “There was about six hours of projectiles flying overhead and landing randomly,” the resident said, declining to be identified. “We just had to shelter where we were.” These uncontrolled launches turned residential streets into a combat zone long after the initial short circuit occurred.
Civilian Casualties and Displacement
The army has confirmed that at least 13 civilians died in the disaster. Among the 57 wounded, three are identified as soldiers. Reports also emerged of casualties at the nearby Mpimba central prison, where at least eight inmates were killed by falling debris. Individual accounts from the Musaga neighbourhood highlight the personal toll of the chaos; one resident described seeing a young woman fall to the ground as she fled with a group of people.
“After a short while I came to know she was violently hit by a bomb,” the witness said. Another man was killed in the Gasekebuye neighbourhood, approximately 100 metres from a local church, just as he was leaving a prayer meeting. Residents of Gasekebuye, Kanyosha, and Kinindo fled their homes in total panic. Many children were separated from their families during the chaos. These children are currently being held at the Buhonga Catholic Parish awaiting reunification with their parents.
National Leadership Reassures the Public President Evariste Ndayishimiye issued an official statement via his X account on Wednesday evening to address the tragedy. “On behalf of the Burundian people, I wish to express my gratitude to all those who, near or far, have shown solidarity following the fire at one of the logistics stockpiles at the Musaga military base,” the President stated. He further expressed his “sympathy” to “all those who have been victims of the fire” while providing a crucial update on national security. “I also want to reassure you that the situation is under control,” he added. Meanwhile, General Baratuza worked to dispel rumors of an insurgency or outside intervention. He reassured the public that there had been no attack on the military camp. Officials continue to urge calm as the city begins a difficult recovery process.
Risks of Unexploded Ordnance Persist
The force of the explosions hurled munitions throughout the surrounding neighborhoods. Major General Aloys Ndayikengurukiye urged the public to remain
vigilant for suspicious objects. Burundian authorities established phone lines for citizens to report dangerous debris. The official warning to the public remains clear: “Be careful and DO NOT TOUCH” any unfamiliar metallic objects. Specialized teams are now working to clear the area of these lethal remnants.
Economic Fragility Underlies the Disaster
This tragedy strikes Burundi as it navigates a period of extreme economic hardship. The World Bank ranked Burundi as the world’s poorest country by GDP per capita in 2023. Chronic fuel shortages and a lack of basic infrastructure have plagued the nation for years. The inability to quickly access water to fight the fire highlights the systemic challenges facing the East African nation. The destruction of a primary arsenal further strains the limited resources of the state.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the safety risks inherent in locating high-capacity munitions depots within dense urban centers. For Burundi, the challenge now lies in balancing immediate humanitarian aid with the long-term necessity of rebuilding critical defense infrastructure in a landscape of scarcity. As the smoke clears over Bujumbura, the focus shifts to whether this disaster will prompt broader reforms in military storage and emergency preparedness.
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Source:
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