Most of them are very young children. Left to themselves, until then they survived by begging. But recently, with the crisis, their life has become more complicated. Desperate, they become very violent. A reporter from Iwacu spent a day with a group of these children. Narrative. It is almost 7:30 a.m. In families “to
Most of them are very young children. Left to themselves, until then they survived by begging. But recently, with the crisis, their life has become more complicated. Desperate, they become very violent. A reporter from Iwacu spent a day with a group of these children. Narrative.
It is almost 7:30 a.m. In the families “free from need” of the upscale Rohero I district, in the town hall of Bujumbura, children are shouting at the top of their voices to demand chocolate bread. A hundred meters away, in the neighboring area of Bwiza, children are packing up their “stuff.” Their belongings are the boxes they slept on at night, lulled by clouds of gluttonous mosquitoes.
These kids are between 5 and 15 years old. Under normal circumstances, these children would still be sleeping in while waiting for breakfast. Alas, for various reasons, these kids ended up in another life. Very quickly, they became men, despite themselves. From these groups of kids, which some already call “gangs”, we hear no lament. Crying is not allowed. “A man’s tears flow to his stomach.” » Literally, a man’s tears flow inside his belly. Live stoically, the philosophers would say.
And by force of circumstance, these children have become a bit of a philosopher. The only key word: survive until the next day. “We live from day to day. For us, each day is enough of its own trouble”murmurs Hassan* (pseudonym), the most adult.
Like a parent who gives orders to children to hurry up at the risk of being late for class, he comes to wake up the five “brothers” in misfortune. Hassan is obviously the boss. He accepted me to follow them throughout the day.
I told him that I was a journalist and that I wanted to understand why they had become so violent lately. The group that accepted me slept opposite 9th Avenue in Bwiza. « Run (fais vite) »claims Hassan, the leader.
Time to wash your face, some stretching. At 7:45 a.m., they set off. The mission is very precise, vital. Find food. They are hungry. I didn’t dare ask the question, but I have the impression that they slept hungry the night before. They want to have their breakfast.
Since the last roundups by the police, these children are afraid to arrive in the heart of the city. According to Hassan, getting to the city center is an exercise, perilous when you can’t find a charitable soul along Mosso Avenue like this morning. I will witness a generous gesture, unexpected these days: a mother, visibly in her sixties, is moved by compassion for Nduwimana, the youngest of the gang. She gives them 12 thousand FBU. The “pack” in Hassan already has the necessary for his breakfast. While waiting for the meal of the day.
I follow them. They walk to reach a rallying point: the parish of Saint-Michel. God smiled on them this morning. They decide to go to a restaurant located on 5th Avenue in Buyenzi, to have breakfast.
Hassan places the order. For everyone, capati (pancake) and beans. To get some energy, they drink tea. Time to digest a little and we leave. Another meeting awaits the 5 friends. We go to the land called “Storm. This morning is the rallying point.
This is where they will plan the day, study the strategy to implement so as not to return empty-handed on their boxes in the evening. Like a general before battle, Hassan is concerned. The competition is tough. Hassan takes the time to explain to me that these days, you have to reinvent yourself. “The strategy is to work in synergy with others. But the risk when one of us gets caught stealing other people’s property…” It does not complete the sentence. We guess what’s next.
A pout
At the “Storm” field, there are a few groups. Everything is well planned. After a few friendly greetings, each group goes to their corner for a ritual. Ours chooses to sit behind a car near the basketball court. Joints, shoe glue in their hands, they start to smoke, to sniff… In 20 minutes, the whole group, including the little ones, “are high. Couldn’t adjust a single word without stuttering. I understand that this moment is used to give courage. With drugs.
Indeed, a few minutes later, the little ones begin to swear that if ever a policeman tries to arrest them, “He will see what they are capable of. » Nduwi, barely 7 years old, after having sniffed two shots of shoe glue, seems to be in heaven. Sitting in a corner, Hassan reminds them of today’s mission: at least 30,000 FBU. Everyone is warned. He must do everything possible to find a maximum of 6,000. Otherwise, he will suffer the wrath of the boss. Taken aback, I ask who is the boss? A brief moment of embarrassment.
Hassan whispers to me that they have to pay certain people so that they are not worried in their areas of action. “A note of 10 thousand FBU, we are sure that for two days, we will not be worried”.A kind of tax. Confused, I ask who is this money going to? And answer me: ” I do not know. Everything we know we give to an elder. »
Suddenly, a guest arrives. An old “. The deference of the group is total. Thirties, like the Sicilian mafia films, obviously, he is the Capo (Chief). A supervisor of Hassan. The field coordinator.
I have to introduce myself. He tells me that before coming he took care to ask his friends who I am. Afterwards, he orders the little ones to move away a little. “Toka bakubwa baongeye (let adults talk).
With Hassan, the host who did not want to give me his name, they will explain to me how they organize the children to earn the most money: “The strategy is to attract empathy. And for that, it is necessary that it is the youngest who are always placed in front to beg. The time to distract the person in question, another can pass behind and sting what is inside the vehicles. » Acts of which they pretend to be so little proud. As if to clear customs, they explain to me that they have to do this “while waiting for a possible reconversion, we must continue to live. »
Gangs born like champions
Quite frankly, very comfortable, they will explain to me how Bujumbura, over time, has been subdivided into areas of action. “Each group operating in the city center has its range of action. Ours goes from OTB to the old supermarket called Chez Dimitri”. No other group is allowed to sleep or carry out their activities there. “If once, a theft occurs there, people know us all, and they will know who to contact to reimburse. » However, he qualifies, otherwise, they ask for authorization. “If not, they pay for it.”
With this subdivision of Bujumbura according to their radius of action, like football teams, children’s groups have names. The ones that operate right in the city center are called “FC Town.” »
Among the most reputed to be violent, FC Asian, these children in street situations who sleep in the Asian district and its surroundings. According to Hassan, this group is mainly made up of native children from Kayanza. “These don’t back down from anything. It is walking terror”. Most times they have razor blades, knives, sharp pieces of wood. “A real gang, which does not hesitate to attack the police if they are not in a group”. According to him, a serious problem because behind the crimes they commit, there is this stubbornness to respond to the wishes of their leader.
I ask them about the composure they show. “After smoking hemp, you no longer feel anything. It’s like you can fly. We believe ourselves untouchable”.
The hunting table of these kids is impressive. They willingly recount old memories. “I was barely eight years old, I stole a Samsung phone. It was in 2008. At the time, I think it could have been worth 350 thousand FBU”. Scene of the crime, the roundabout of the former offices rented by the company Econet-Leo.
He will escape by rushing into the sewer near the Heroes of Democracy monument. “Very angry, the owner of the stolen phone even hired a sentry to guard the entrance to the sewer.”
The situation seemed hopeless for the young thief entrenched in the sewer. “Around 10 p.m., the sentry went to relieve himself. The moment chosen to take off”.
They know the sewers of Bujumbura like the back of their hand. They know the entrances and exits. “Every sewer has its outlet. But, the sewer that has always done us a favor is the one near the Ecofo Stella Matutina, it’s the best”.
Around 1 p.m., the band in Hassan will walk the road that leads to the city center with the hope of collecting 30,000 FBU, the goal of the day set by the leader of the band. Around 5 p.m., when I went to join Iwacu to write what I experienced, the group had not yet reached its goal…