The “banana kamikazes” — that’s how Burundians nickname the cyclists who hurtle down one of the country’s most dangerous roads at nearly 70 kilometers per hour. At that speed, and loaded with several bunches of bananas, their bikes are almost impossible to stop. They weave between heavy trucks to avoid accidents, travel in groups to clear a path, and grab onto the back of trailers to catch their breath on the climbs. Elsewhere, Burundians toiling in the mines also have to contend with deeply rutted tracks, where trucks sway through giant mud craters. This stretch of track is officially considered a national road, but in reality, it is largely controlled by local militias who extort travelers to fund their guerrilla warfare.