21/08/2026
Fire Engulfs Le Parisien and Galerie Ndayizamba in
A major fire swept through the Le Parisien and Galerie Ndayizamba commercial buildings in Bujumbura on Friday, August 21, 2026, destroying traders’ goods and prompting a major firefighting operation.
The blaze broke out in the early hours of Friday and spread across several floors of the commercial buildings. Firefighters and police were deployed to the scene as traders and residents tried to salvage their belongings.
At Le Parisien, flames were reported on the second and third floors before spreading to the lower section of the building, located opposite BCB bank. The fire remained active as emergency teams worked to bring it under control.
The scale and height of the buildings presented a major challenge for firefighters. People at the scene said reaching flames on the upper floors with conventional firefighting equipment was difficult.
Some traders and residents suggested that aerial firefighting equipment could have helped tackle the flames from above. Burundi, however, does not have dedicated firefighting aircraft.
A security official at the scene described the operation as difficult, particularly because the fire was burning high above ground level.
Vice President Prosper Bazombanza, who visited the scene, said commercial buildings must be designed with emergency access in mind.
“Those who build markets like these should make sure they leave roads through which fire engines can pass,” Bazombanza said.
He also appealed to affected traders to remain calm as the government assesses what can be done following the losses.
“What has happened has happened. We are going to look carefully at what can be done so that life can continue,” he said.
Bazombanza also stressed the importance of insurance for traders and owners of commercial properties, saying insurance can help businesses recover after disasters such as fires.
Among those who visited the scene were Vice President Prosper Bazombanza, the Minister of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security Léonidas Ndaruzaniye, Bujumbura Province Governor Aloys Ndayikengurukiye, Mukaza Commune Administrator Aline Bigirimana and Brigadier General of Police Richard Ndayisaba, responsible for disaster and emergency response within the Ministry of Security.
As firefighters continued battling the flames, traders gathered around the scene attempting to recover whatever goods they could.
The fire has also renewed concerns about fire safety in Burundi’s markets, including the availability of firefighting equipment, emergency access routes and fire-prevention measures.
Authorities have previously promoted measures such as installing fire extinguishers, keeping emergency routes clear and replacing some wooden market structures with safer materials.
The cause of Friday’s fire had not been officially established at the time of reporting.
For traders at Le Parisien and Galerie Ndayizamba, the immediate concern remained the scale of their losses, with clothing, shoes and other valuable merchandise destroyed by the blaze.
