Crime in Burundi

Because Burundi participates in peacekeeping operations in Somalia, the terrorist organization al-Shabaab, based in Somalia, has threatened terror attacks in Burundi, the US State Department reported.

Low-level political violence is a concern in Bujumbura Rural, Makamba, Rumonge and the area by the Kibira forest.

In general, crime, including muggings, burglaries, robberies and carjackings, often committed by groups of armed bandits or street children, poses the highest risk for visitors in both Bujumbura and Burundi. Exchanges of gunfire and grenade attacks are common, even in urban areas.

The US Embassy prohibits personnel from walking on the streets of Bujumbura after dark and from using public transport at any time. It also received reports of armed criminals ambushing vehicles, particularly on roads out of the city.