President Évariste Ndayishimiye met with cadres from the Ministry of Mining, Energy, Trade, and Tourism at the Ntare Rushatsi palace on August 14, 2026. This high-level meeting, which brought together key officials responsible for vital economic sectors, served as a platform for the President to address a range of issues. During the meeting, online news accounts reported that the head of state criticized the overloading of taxis, a practice he seemingly viewed as disorderly. This specific criticism emerged amidst broader concerns regarding the country's economic management, particularly in the face of a persistent and debilitating fuel crisis. The focus on taxi overloading, in this context, has raised questions about the government's priorities and its approach to addressing fundamental economic challenges.
Government's Stated Concerns
According to the national broadcaster RTNB, President Évariste Ndayishimiye addressed the "multiplication of taxis" during the August 14, 2026 meeting. He emphasized the necessity for "better regulation" within the transport sector, suggesting that the current state of affairs was chaotic and inefficient. The President reportedly stated that the task of overloading vehicles should be reserved for larger buses, specifically mentioning Hiace and Coaster models, which are designed for higher passenger capacities. This distinction implied a desire for a more structured and categorized approach to public transport. President Ndayishimiye called upon the transport sector to "organize" the distribution of passengers more effectively, indicating a perceived lack of order in how commuters are currently served. He also stated, with a direct observation on consumer choice, "whoever chooses a taxi chooses speed, and speed costs a lot." This statement suggested an expectation that passengers opting for taxis should be prepared to pay a premium for a more individualized and faster service, rather than contributing to what he termed overloading. The President showed that organizing transport, enforcing traffic laws, and adapting passenger numbers to vehicle capacity are responsibilities of the state, thereby reaffirming the government's role in overseeing and rectifying the perceived issues within the sector. His remarks noted a governmental perspective that views the current taxi operations as a symptom of disorganization that requires immediate state intervention and stricter controls.
The Deepening Fuel Crisis
Burundi has experienced a chronic fuel shortage for over five years, a situation exacerbated by difficulties in accessing foreign currency. This prolonged scarcity has had profound implications for daily life and economic activity across the nation. In Bujumbura, the country's economic capital, the impact is particularly acute, with passengers frequently sharing taxi costs, sometimes paying 5,000 francs each, largely due to a scarcity of available buses. This practice notes the severe strain on public transportation infrastructure and the informal coping mechanisms adopted by citizens to navigate the crisis. The absence of sufficient public buses forces many to rely on shared taxi services, often at inflated prices, just to commute.
The severity of the crisis was particularly evident in early August, when petrol stations across Bujumbura were reportedly empty. This widespread scarcity brought much of the city's transport to a standstill and led to a flourishing black market where fuel was sold at significantly inflated prices, reaching up to 25,000 francs for a liter and a half, in stark contrast to the official rate of 4,000 francs per liter. The exorbitant prices on the black market show the desperation of consumers and the deep dysfunction within the official supply channels. The shortage has prompted some public service vehicles, including those belonging to civilian administrations, the police, and the army, to reportedly operate as taxis in the evenings. This unofficial activity is said to help recoup fuel costs for the drivers of these vehicles, who face their own challenges in securing fuel, and simultaneously assist citizens in dire need of transport, creating an informal, yet essential, transport network. One individual claimed that some drivers have established a "regular business" out of this practice, leveraging the scarcity for personal gain. They reported that carrying five passengers at 5,000 francs per rotation generates 25,000 francs, indicating a potentially lucrative, albeit unofficial, venture that has emerged directly from the fuel crisis and the gaping holes in formal transport provision. This informal economy, driven by necessity, further illustrates the systemic failures in fuel distribution and public transport.
Energy Sector Mismanagement
Burundi's government has made several structural changes to its energy sector in recent years, attempting to address the persistent fuel supply issues. In February 2022, the official responsibility for fuel importation was entrusted to REGIDESO, the national water and electricity utility. This decision aimed to centralize control and improve efficiency, but the problems persisted. This arrangement was later revised, indicating the government's ongoing struggle to find a stable and effective solution. The Council of Ministers decided on a new structure for fuel importation on January 3, 2024. This significant policy shift led to the formal creation of Société pétrolière du Burundi (SOPEBU), established by decree on February 20, 2024. SOPEBU was envisioned as a dedicated entity to manage the nation's petroleum supply chain, ostensibly to bring greater order and reliability to fuel imports.
Despite these organizational shifts and the creation of new institutions, significant issues have emerged within the fuel supply chain, pointing to deeper problems than mere structural deficiencies. The head of state himself revealed the alarming disappearance of 19 million liters of diesel and 12 million liters of gasoline. This substantial loss of vital fuel reserves represents a major blow to the country's energy security and its economy. President Évariste Ndayishimiye attributed this loss to embezzlement, specifically naming executives he had appointed to positions of authority, implying a betrayal of trust and systemic corruption within the very institutions meant to manage the crisis. The challenges in managing the country's energy resources extended to the newly formed SOPEBU. In a move that further blurred its core mission, on June 24, 2026, the Council of Ministers authorized SOPEBU to broaden its scope of operations beyond petroleum, permitting the company to invest in gold and rare minerals. This expansion of SOPEBU's mandate, occurring even as the country grapples with a severe fuel crisis and questions of mismanagement within the energy sector, has raised concerns about the focus and effectiveness of the state-owned enterprise, diverting attention and resources from its primary, critical role of ensuring a stable fuel supply for the nation. The President's public criticism of taxi overloading, therefore, comes against a backdrop of profound and ongoing failures in the management of the country's most vital energy resources, suggesting a potential deflection from the more fundamental issues at hand.