Burundi president confirms casualties after military base weapons explosion in Bujumbura

Bujumbura, April 1, 2026 - Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye has confirmed that fatalities occurred following a weapons explosion at a military base in the Musaga area of Bujumbura. In a statement shared on social media, President Ndayishimiye expressed condolences to families of those killed and wished a swift recovery to the injured. He said the government remains confident in its capacity to defend national sovereignty despite the incident. The explosion, which occurred on the night of March 31, reportedly affected an arms depot inside a military facility in the Musaga zone. Authorities have attributed the fire to an electrical fault. However, security sources cited by AFP indicated that the incident may have resulted in more than 10 deaths, although official figures have not been fully confirmed. The Burundian military and Ministry of Internal Security have launched further assessments to determine the exact cause and full extent of the damage.