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GITEGA, Burundi Burundi’s government is firmly denying allegations that its citizens have been trafficked as domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, following a TV5 Monde investigation that uncovered serious abuses, including forced confinement, wage theft, passport confiscation, and at least one reported death. The investigation, conducted in collaboration with Afrique XXI and...

ARUSHA, Tanzania (Burundi Times) — The East African Business Council (EABC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have signed a $1 million grant agreement aimed at accelerating sustainable industrialization and strengthening manufacturing value chains across East Africa. The funding is expected to enhance regional economic integration, spur growth, and increase the competitiveness of priority...

WASHINGTON — Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed a U.S.-brokered peace agreement in Washington on June 27, pledging to halt years of cross-border violence and usher in a fragile stability. At a ceremony at the U.S. State Department, the two nations’ foreign ministers made key commitments to withdraw foreign troops, disarm militias...

NAIROBI, Kenya— Extreme poverty is rising rapidly in countries plagued by conflict and political instability, with the vast majority of the world’s poorest now living in such fragile environments, the World Bank warned Thursday in a sweeping new report. According to the assessment—the first comprehensive analysis of conflict-affected economies in the aftermath of COVID-19—more...

UNITED NATIONS — Burundi’s ambassador to the United Nations, Zéphyrin Maniratanga, called on the UN General Assembly Wednesday to formally recognize the 1972 genocide against the Hutu population, a campaign of state-sponsored killings that left hundreds of thousands dead. Speaking at the 80th plenary meeting focused on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P), Maniratanga said,...

Paris, June 26, 2025 — The World Bank Group and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) formalized a new partnership on Thursday aimed at promoting the safe, secure, and responsible use of nuclear energy in developing countries. The agreement, signed by World Bank Group President Ajay Banga and IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, represents the World...

The East African Community (EAC) has approved a total budget of $109,338,151 for the 2025/2026 financial year, with a strong emphasis on regional integration, infrastructure development, and strengthening institutional capacity. The budget was passed despite persistent challenges in funding, including delayed contributions from Partner States and reliance on Development Partners. The budget, themed “Inclusive...

June 22, 2025, Washington — The United States launched precision airstrikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan—marking a significant escalation as it formally joined Israel’s campaign to dismantle Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, officials announced. U.S. President Donald Trump said the strikes were “completely and fully obliterated,” citing successful use of stealth bombers...

Gitega — Senate leaders from Burundi and Rwanda met in Gitega on June 20 in a bid to ease tensions that have strained the two nations since 2015. Burundi’s Senate President Emmanuel Sinzohagera hosted Rwanda’s Senate President François‑Xavier Kalinda, accompanied by Rwanda’s Vice Presidents Soline Nyirahabimana and Dr. Mukabaramba Alvera. The focus: strengthening bilateral ties through parliamentary...

BUJUMBURA, Burundi — Burundi’s Constitutional Court on Friday formally validated the results of the June 5 legislative elections, confirming that the ruling CNDD-FDD party secured all 100 directly elected seats in the National Assembly. The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) reported that the CNDD‑FDD received approximately 96.5 percent of the vote—about 5.85 million ballots cast—while...