A 13-year-old boy from a Congolese refugee family died on Saturday, 24 October 2026, after an abandoned munition exploded at the Cishemere transit center in Bujumbura, Burundi. The blast occurred while the child was lighting a fire to roast corn, leaving a second child injured. A refugee at the center who requested anonymity stated: "Nous avons fui la guerre et nous ne devrions pas risquer de mourir ici à cause de balles abandonnées. Nous demandons au gouvernement de sécuriser la zone et de protéger nos enfants." ("We fled the war and we should not risk dying here because of abandoned bullets. We ask the government to secure the area and protect our children.") Authorities have yet to provide further details regarding the origin of the munition.
The incident occurred on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the Cishemere transit center in the province of Bujumbura, Burundi. During the afternoon, a 13-year-old boy from a Congolese refugee family died after a bullet exploded while he was lighting a fire to roast corn. A second child was injured in the same explosion, noting the immediate dangers faced by those residing within the transit facility. The presence of unexploded ordnance has created a climate of fear among the displaced population housed at the site.
Victim Background and Origins
The victim originated from the Luvungi groupement in the Rusizi plain of South-Kivu, situated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The victim was originally from the Luvungi groupement in the Rusizi plain, South-Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. His family relocated to Burundi to seek refuge from conflict in the eastern provinces of their home country.
Cishemere transit center occupies a site in close proximity to a military shooting range. The Cishemere transit center is located in close proximity to a military shooting range used by Burundian soldiers and members of the Imbonerakure. Burundian soldiers and members of the Imbonerakure utilize this facility for training exercises. The presence of this range near the housing areas for refugees remains a primary point of concern for those residing at the center.
Refugees living at the Cishemere transit center have expressed ongoing anxiety regarding the proximity of the military infrastructure. The daily activities of the refugees, including cooking and gathering materials, are frequently conducted in areas near the perimeter of the training site. Because the shooting range is actively used by Burundian soldiers and members of the Imbonerakure, residents fear that stray munitions or discarded items from training exercises pose a persistent threat to their safety. The death of the 13-year-old boy and the injury of the second child have intensified these concerns, leading to renewed calls for the authorities to address the risks posed by the proximity of the military range to the refugee housing. While the government has been contacted regarding the incident, there has been no official statement issued regarding the specific protocols for securing the area surrounding the Cishemere transit center.
