Business

Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reopened the Gatumba–Kavimvira border crossing on Monday, restoring a key commercial corridor between Bujumbura and Uvira after nearly two months of closure triggered by fighting in eastern Congo. The frontier had been shut since Dec. 10, 2025, when Burundi closed crossings after M23 rebels advanced into...

Senior officials from the East African Community met Thursday to address a persistent challenge facing the bloc, trade among member states has remained stuck at about 15% of total commerce for more than a decade well below estimates that it could reach 30% to 50%. The issue dominated the opening of a two-day policy...

The Bank of the Republic of Burundi (BRB) has issued a new regulatory framework strengthening the country’s fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, representative government and financial sector officials said Friday. The regulation, issued on January 30, 2026, implements Law which amended Burundi’s principal anti‑money laundering and counter‑financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) law. BRB officials said...

Officials from nine African countries, including Burundi, convened Feb. 10–12 in Nairobi for the ASCENT Carbon Days 2026 forum, a regional meeting focused on expanding clean-energy access and helping countries tap carbon markets to finance development. The event, organized by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the World Bank, brought together...

Burundi’s petroleum supply agency, SOPEBU, met Monday with owners of 114 public transport vehicles after data showed possible irregularities in fuel usage. SOPEBU Director General Samuel Ndayisenga said the vehicles had completed fewer than 10 rotations, based on information collected through digital monitoring systems. “These 114 vehicles completed fewer than ten...

African business magnate Aliko Dangote visited Burundi this Saturday as part of a high-level Nigerian and African economic delegation, in a trip Burundian officials say is aimed at strengthening investment ties and accelerating the country’s industrial ambitions. Dangote, chairman and chief executive officer of the Dangote Group and widely regarded as Africa’s richest man,...

The Burundi Central Bank (BRB) announced Thursday that it has successfully upgraded its Automated Transfer System (ATS) to the international ISO 20022 standard, a major step in modernizing the country’s financial infrastructure. Starting Friday, Feb. 6, banks and the Régie Nationale des Postes will resume interbank operations using the new system. Edouard Normand Bigendako, Governor...

India’s High Commissioner to Uganda has warned Indian employers operating in East Africa against confiscating workers’ passports and altering employment contracts, calling the practices illegal and exploitative, with reported cases affecting workers in the region, including Burundi. Speaking during India’s Republic Day celebrations in Kampala, High Commissioner Upender Singh Rawat said the Government of...

Burundi’s Ministry of Finance has introduced stricter eligibility criteria governing the operation of bars, restaurants and hotels, tightening standards for alcohol sales and hospitality services in a move authorities say is aimed at improving public health, security and service quality nationwide. The new rules set out minimum requirements for establishments seeking authorization to operate,...

U.S. Embassy Bujumbura Chargé d’Affaires Ambassador Melanie Higgins met this week with Chris Showalter, chief executive officer of Lifezone Metals, to discuss proposed plans for a joint U.S.–Burundi initiative to develop the Musongati nickel deposit, according to a post from the embassy on X formerly known as Twitter. The discussions focused on ways to...