Politics

The East African Community has launched a pilot project to link Rwanda and Tanzania’s national payment systems, a move officials say will pave the way for instant, low-cost money transfers across the region. The project connects Tanzania’s Instant Payment System (TIPS) with Rwanda’s National Payment Switch (RSwitch), allowing people and businesses to send and...

China has cemented its dominance as East Africa’s top trading partner, deepening economic interdependence with the bloc as overall trade hit record levels. The EAC Secretariat reports that “China remained the leading source of imports, contributing US$ 4.7 billion or 24.2% of the total,” and was also one of the largest destinations for...

Tanzania’s electoral commission on Saturday declared President Samia Suluhu Hassan the winner of the country’s presidential election, securing nearly 98 percent of the vote in a result that has ignited widespread protests and drawn sharp criticism from opposition groups and international observers. According to official results, Hassan, who leads the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi...

Burundi’s government has introduced a new sanitation ordinance that imposes fines on individuals and businesses found violating public hygiene and cleanliness regulations, part of a nationwide effort to improve sanitation and environmental health. The ministerial decree, signed in October 2025, sets penalties ranging from 5,000 to 500,000 Burundi francs (about US $1.50 to $150)...

Burundi’s government on Oct. 27, 2025, carried out the country’s second official export of 175 tons of 3T minerals cassiterite, coltan, and wolframite sourced from Murehe and Tanganyika mining sites, operated by SOTREVO and Tanganyika Minerals, according to a statement from the State House. While addressing the press, Burundi president Evariste Ndayishimiye emphasized the...

ARUSHA, Tanzania — The East African Community (EAC) has deployed a 67-member Election Observation Mission (EOM) to the United Republic of Tanzania ahead of the country’s general elections set for October 29. The mission, officially flagged off Thursday at the EAC headquarters in Arusha, follows an invitation by the Tanzanian government and is part...

Burundi President Évariste Ndayishimiye has expressed his condolences to the people of Kenya, President William Ruto, and the family of the late Raila Odinga, following the Kenyan opposition leader’s death on October 15, 2025. In a message shared on social media, President Ndayishimiye said: “On behalf of the Government and people...

Burundi’s 2023 Mining Code introduced sweeping reforms to attract investment, improve transparency, and ensure communities benefit from mineral wealth — but gender disparities and weak enforcement continue to shadow the sector, according to a new regional report. The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), through its Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources (ATNR), noted...

ARUSHA, Tanzania — The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has sounded alarm over persistent governance failures, mineral smuggling, and inconsistent mining laws that are draining billions in potential revenue from the region’s mineral wealth. In a report adopted Tuesday by EALA’s Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources (ATNR), lawmakers said the mining sector...

ARUSHA, Tanzania — Burundi’s newly appointed foreign minister, Edouard Bizimana, was sworn in Tuesday as an ex-officio member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) during a session in Arusha, Tanzania. “Recently, His Excellency Évariste Ndayishimiye appointed Edouard Bizimana as the minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Community Affairs of Burundi. As the...