Two Burundians shot dead on suspicion of smuggling at Rwandan border

On April 29, 2026, Burundian police shot dead two Burundians accused of trying to smuggle coffee into Rwanda through illegal means. That morning, police officers operating in Mparamirundi, Kayanza Commune in Butanyerera Province, near the Rwanda-Burundi border, arrested four people accused of smuggling.

The men were carrying between 40 and 60 kilos of coffee, believed to be intended to smuggle it across the border that had been closed for two years. The arrested men were taken to the Mparamirundi Police Station, where two of them were shot dead, on the orders of the station commander, known as Franck.

SOS Medias reported that there are reports that the Burundian high command has ordered border police to shoot at those smuggling goods. On the other hand, Burundian police say that the gunfire was caused by residents who were rioting and demanding the release of their loved ones, but that the shots were fired into the air to calm them down.

Burundi’s Ministry of Internal Security has denied reports that civilians were killed in Mparamirundi. It confirmed that some people were arrested for illegally crossing the border and that they will be brought to justice. It said: “No one was killed in the Mparamirundi zone... Those caught with coffee will be brought to justice immediately.”

Although the government denies the deaths of these citizens, other reports indicate that the police have already buried them, but were instructed to say that they were not killed, but are still in custody. This again raises questions about the security of the population and the way security agencies are dealing with the problems of smuggling at the border.

The Rwanda-Burundi border has been closed for two years since 2024, following a period of strained relations between the two countries. This has led to an increase in smuggling, especially in goods such as coffee, food and household items. Border residents often try to smuggle these goods at night to avoid police.

The incident has once again highlighted the scale of the smuggling trade and the impact of border insecurity. Human rights experts say that the use of force against small traders could increase tensions between the authorities and the population. The Burundian government should introduce a simplified system for customs clearance of goods crossing the border and establish impartial inspection bodies, in order to prevent similar incidents.

Two Burundians shot dead on suspicion of smuggling at Rwandan border