As anger mounts in Burundi over rising fuel prices, Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye called on his compatriots to calm down on Thursday, April 28, invoking “a test” from God.
After an initial fuel price increase of 12.5% for petrol and heating oil last January, the Burundian government increased these same products by 20 and 30% respectively on Thursday 28 April. And this while the country is on the verge of running out of fuel, oil companies refusing for more than a month to import these products which they consider to be at a loss.
This severe shortage of gasoline, coupled with a recent ban on motorcycles, bicycles and tuk-tuks, taxis or private, had virtually paralyzed the economy and the country, and sparked popular discontent that no longer hides. During the monthly prayer at the national headquarters of the ruling party, President Évariste Ndayishimiye called on the population to calm down.
” The country was already going through a difficult period after years of suffering from budgetary sanctions, and today we are experiencing a serious shortage of gasoline. We see that Burundians remain calm, telling themselves that every storm has an end. We are looking for solutions. It’s going to get better soon, you’ll see, because we’re working on it.
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Prices have also increased among our neighbors and elsewhere. And it is we, the poor, who are further enclaved, who are going to complain and put on a show? You know, God is always going to let us face trials of all kinds, to see how far our faith goes. The problem is that it feels like the sky is falling at the slightest problem. But remember, this country has been through the worst before, and we’ve come through it every time. »