During this security meeting held in the protected area of Rukambasi in Vugizo commune, it was observed that certain individuals had arrogated to themselves the power to exploit it.

This was proven by the letter dated 16 July 2019 signed by Niragira Étienne, the adviser to the Kagege hill chief, granting his zone chief Mpinga the right to cut certain trees there to extract lumber for carpentry and make charcoal.

Based on all of the above, the governor of Makamba province consequently made the decision to suspend from their duties as of Monday Ndayarinze Salvatore, Mpinga zone chief, and Étienne Niragira, one of the local elected officials of the Kagege hill.

In addition to this, Gad Niyukuri is calling on the agents of the Burundian Office for Environmental Protection in Makamba province to have the boundaries distinguishing this Rukambasi protected area from properties belonging to the population marked as soon as possible.

This comes approximately three months after the OBPE Makamba staff destroyed all the small houses of those who were engaged in various activities threatening this protected area that had been built there, which the holders of these houses had considered unjust, which is why they took the matter to court.

By Jérôme Hakizimana