By Seif Shaggy Gracien Hasingizwimana
The city of Bujumbura experienced moments of tension on Tuesday evening, March 31, 2026, after a fire broke out in an arms warehouse belonging to the National Defence Force of Burundi (FDNB) located in the Musaga zone. The fire was accompanied by the sound of explosions, causing uncertainty among residents before relevant authorities provided clarification on the situation.
The spokesperson for the Burundian military, Brig. Gen. Baratuza Gaspard, released a statement via the X platform to dispel potential rumors, confirming that the incident was an accident involving an arms depot. He stated: “The Burundian military informs that the fire originated from an arms warehouse in Bujumbura; it is an accident.”
On this Tuesday, the Ministry of Interior, Community Development and Public Security also issued a statement to reassure citizens who were alarmed by the sounds of explosions heard across the city. The Ministry explained that the detonations were a result of the fire that broke out in the military camp and urged the public to remain calm.
The Ministry’s statement read: “Those in the city of Bujumbura, remain calm and do not let anything disturb you; the situation is being monitored, continue to stay safe.”
This fire in the Musaga camp follows previous incidents that have affected various parts of the city. Notably, on June 20, 2023, a major fire destroyed five large grocery stores located behind the former central market, resulting in significant property damage. At that time, traders attributed the fire to electrical issues.
Currently, security forces are closely monitoring the situation at the Musaga camp to determine the full extent of the damage, while calm has been restored among the population following the communications from military leadership and the Ministry of Security.
