Residents are denouncing what they call an association operating in Ngozi Commune, whose actions are causing concern and distrust.
This group is known as ALUCOMAFB: Association for the Fight Against Malpractice and Fraud in Burundi. Originally, the association operated in the former provinces of Kirundo and Ngozi, but in Kirundo, the governor at the time decided to ban it, as we will see below.
The association is primarily composed of Imbonerakure – young members affiliated with the ruling CNDD-FDD party – who claim to fight against illegal trade and fraud concerning imported goods in the provinces of Kirundo and Ngozi. In the former province of Butanyerera, ALUCOMAFB was led by Eunid, while in Ngozi Commune it was led by Jean Claude HAVUGA.
Since its creation, these Imbonerakure have rapidly adopted irregular and abusive behaviors, appearing to replace all local authorities in the former provinces of Kirundo and Ngozi. They have begun to extort money from residents possessing goods and confiscate them. At times, they have even acted like agents of the Burundi Revenue Authority (OBR), collecting money where taxes were required. The police authorities have been unable to exercise control over them.
These abuses caused widespread dissatisfaction, leading the governor of the former province of Kirundo, Victor SEGASAGO, to suspend ALUCOMAFB. Since that decision, the association has continued operating only in the former province of Ngozi.
In this area, its leader, Jean Claude HAVUGA, in coordination with his Imbonerakure, continues activities under the guise of fighting illegal trade. However, they act as unofficial security forces, visiting residents’ homes without a warrant and demanding money abusively. These practices are particularly common in Ngozi Commune and Kiremba Commune.
Additionally, those claiming to be part of this association assert that they collaborate with the intelligence services, and they threaten residents who refuse to pay.
Today, the anger of local residents is very high in Ngozi Province. They are calling on the governor of Butanyerera Province, Victor SEGASAGO, to suspend ALUCOMAFB, as was done in the former province of Kirundo, because it is clear that this association does nothing to benefit the country and only creates chaos and extorts money at the expense of local people.