Major Fire Guts Galerie Ndayizamba and Le Parisien in Central Bujumbura
Burundi – August 21, 2026: A major fire erupted early Friday morning in the commercial heart of Bujumbura, gutting two prominent multi-shop buildings and leaving traders in despair as flames tore through their livelihoods.
The blaze broke out around 6 a.m. at Galerie Ndayizamba, a key commercial complex in the city centre, with reports indicating it began in the basement area as the first workers of the day arrived.
Within a short time the fire spread to the neighbouring Galerie Le Parisien, reducing large sections of both structures to smoke and ash. Firefighters and police units raced to the scene with water trucks, yet the intensity of the flames and restricted access in the dense urban setting hampered their efforts.
By mid-morning the fire remained only partially contained, with thick smoke continuing to billow and nearby buildings coming under threat.
Traders scrambled to pull merchandise from the burning shops where possible, while others stood helpless as their goods were consumed.
Scenes of distress unfolded on the streets, with some merchants describing catastrophic losses running into billions of Burundian francs in just a few hours. Security personnel from the galleries were taken in for questioning as authorities opened an investigation. No fatalities or serious injuries have been confirmed so far.
The two galleries had become important trading hubs for residents following earlier market disasters in the capital. Friday’s fire marks another heavy blow to Bujumbura’s commercial life, destroying stalls, workshops and stock that supported numerous families. As emergency crews continued their work, the full scale of the damage was still being assessed and the cause of the outbreak remained unclear.
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