BUJUMBURA, November 17, 2025 — A powerful explosion, described by witnesses as a lightning strike, caused panic during a recent visit by Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye to a gold-mining cooperative in Mabayi. Three members of his security detail were seriously injured.
According to local media channels, Ndayishimiye had just formally installed the new head of Mugina district, Anicet Saidi, in the Mabayi Zone town centre in Bujumbura Province, western Burundi. He then travelled to the Dukorere Ahabona mining cooperative in Mageyo village, in the Butahana Zone of the same district. The cooperative is managed by a man known as Musafi.
A detonation plunges the visit into panic
As the president toured the site, a violent detonation accompanied by a bright flash suddenly struck the surrounding area. According to several witnesses, the force of the blast threw everyone present — including the president — to the ground.
Three soldiers assigned to his close protection team were seriously injured and taken to a medical facility. The scene left those present deeply shaken.
Despite the incident, Ndayishimiye reassured residents that mining represents “essential wealth for Burundi” and a key driver of economic development.
A cooperative under close surveillance
Several local sources claim that the Dukorere Ahabona cooperative is partly linked to the personal interests of the Head of State, who is said to share its management with Musafi. According to these sources, mining equipment, vehicles used to transport ore, and some logistical materials originate from departments attached to the presidency.
Access to the area is tightly controlled. Soldiers maintain constant surveillance, bar any unauthorised entry, and sharply restrict visibility into the cooperative’s daily operations.
https://thecooperator.news/kilak-farmers-cooperative-society-to-explore-burundian-market/
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