Burundi to investigate Musaga ammunition depot blasts

Burundi’s authorities said explosions heard in Musaga, in southern Bujumbura, on Tuesday night were caused by an accident at an ammunition depot, prompting a rapid security response in nearby neighborhoods, according to a local report.

It was also reported that the blasts were linked to an electrical short-circuit at an ammunition store in a military camp in the commercial capital.

The incident caused alarm across parts of southern Bujumbura, including Musaga, Kanyosha and nearby areas, as residents reacted to loud detonations and smoke rising from the site. The Burundian army’s spokesperson, Brigadier General Gaspard Baratuza, said the explosions were accidental and not the result of an attack, a position also reflected in Associated Press reporting.

Security and specialized emergency teams were deployed to contain the area and prevent further risk, while officials urged residents to remain calm and avoid the affected zone during the operation. By the following morning, the situation had stabilized.

The explosions have drawn attention to the risks linked to sensitive military storage facilities in urban areas, especially when incidents unfold close to densely populated neighborhoods. For now, authorities are treating the Musaga case as an accident while response teams continue securing the site.