Burunga residents report forced land expropriation and illegal mining

In the Burunga province of Burundi, local populations in the communes of Rumonge, Muhuta, Matana, and Makamba are reporting forced and opaque land expropriations. Residents claim these actions are being carried out to facilitate mining activities without prior consultation or compensation for legitimate landowners.

Members of the Burundi National Defence Force (FDNB) are reportedly deployed around major gold extraction sites, including Gisenyi, Maramvya, and Ruteme in the Burambi and Bugarama areas. These military contingents are tasked with securing extraction operations that occur both day and night, overseeing teams of civilians and gold miners.

Local residents have expressed concerns that the military presence is being used as a strategy of intimidation to suppress protests regarding environmental and material damages. Furthermore, sources close to the Ministry of Energy and Mines have indicated that these mining operations are not registered with the appropriate state services, suggesting they are operating outside the legal framework.