Residents of the communes of Kabarore and Muruta in Kayanza Province, northern Burundi, are expressing strong outrage over their socio-economic situation. They denounce persistent poverty despite the presence of rich mineral resources being extracted in their area and sold on the international market.
According to the residents, mining activities have not translated into visible local development, despite repeated promises from authorities.
“Minerals are being extracted here. The government promised it would do everything possible for development. But nothing has changed. We do not understand,” some residents of Muruta say.
Beyond issues of poverty and lack of development, some citizens raise even more serious concerns, alleging that their land is being exploited without their consent. They claim that mining activities are sometimes carried out without prior consultation with landowners, a situation they describe as unacceptable and deeply regrettable.
In Kabarore, similar accusations are directed at cooperatives and private mining companies, which are accused of not contributing sufficiently to local development. However, these companies reject the allegations. They state that they operate legally, possess the required permits, and pay taxes in accordance with established agreements.
“We have documents authorizing us to extract minerals. We pay taxes as required. The authorities should therefore take responsibility for addressing the population’s concerns,” they say.
Residents also point to visible consequences of mining activities, particularly the rapid deterioration of roads caused by the frequent passage of heavy machinery used in extraction. They also lament the lack of basic infrastructure, especially access to clean drinking water.
“Apart from the machines passing through here, we have nothing. Not even clean water. It is shameful for a region so rich in minerals,” residents complain.
Overall, mineral exploitation in Kayanza Province has been ongoing for more than ten years in several areas, without significant improvement in local living conditions, further fueling public outrage.