Sources within the country's political and business circles say Angeline used her influence to orchestrate the arrest of Rwandan businessman Dushimimana Protais, the head of Dupro International Trade Company (DITCO), an oil import firm that recently beat Prestige in a government fuel procurement deal.
Dushimimana's company had secured contracts to supply fuel to various government ministries, a move that placed him at odds with Prestige, which had been struggling to recover from an earlier setback involving the detention of its fuel shipments in Tanzania due to tax evasion allegations.
According to insiders in Gitega, Dushimimana was arrested in early 2025 and is currently being held at the overcrowded Mpimba Central Prison in Bujumbura alongside his lawyer, Ciza Felicien.
Neither of the two has been granted access to a court hearing, with their release reportedly hinging on direct orders from the First Family.
The Rwandan businessman is accused of playing a role in the blockage of Prestige's fuel shipments from Bahrainâ€"an accusation some believe is being used to justify his detention and eliminate him from the competition.
Observers say this move has further exacerbated Burundi's fuel crisis, as one of the few functioning suppliers has now been silenced. Prestige, meanwhile, is reportedly positioning itself as the sole fuel importer, tightening Angeline Ndayishimiye's grip on the country's critical energy sector.
Fuel prices in the country have skyrocketedâ€"now five times higher than previous levelsâ€"forcing many Burundians to resort to black market purchases.
Daily life has become unpredictable, with the state petroleum company, SOPEBU, posting last-minute fuel distribution lists on X. Vehicle owners face strict rations, with taxis limited to just 20 litres of fuel per week.
Frustration is mounting. 'You post the list at 3 p.m. while we've spent the whole day queuing at the wrong station. How is this fair?' one of the consumers vented.
Anger is also growing toward President Ndayishimiye and his family, who are increasingly seen as enriching themselves at the expense of a nation that ranks among the five poorest in the world, with a GDP per capita of just $193. Critics argue that the First Family's alleged attempts to monopolize strategic sectors like oil are worsening the plight of Burundians.
'Corruption and the misappropriation of public funds are at the root of this crisis,' said Patrick Nkurunziza, leader of the opposition coalition Burundi Bwa Bose, in an interview with AFP.
'These odious practices are so deeply embedded in the current political system that any effort to reverse them is almost futile.'
Despite regularly presenting themselves as pious figuresâ€"often seen giving public sermonsâ€"President Évariste Ndayishimiye and his wife now face growing scrutiny over the stark contrast between their religious image and their actions, which many see as exploitative and self-serving.
There are growing fears that the First Family's actions to silence business rivals could deepen instability, cripple the energy sector, and dash any remaining hopes of recovery for millions of Burundians.
IGIHE
