12-20-2019 ■ Freddy Mbinimpa, Mayor of Bujumbura, took, on 22 December, a series of measures including fixing the opening and closing hours of bars. Bars must open after 5 p.m. and close before 9 p.m., on weekdays while they open after 1 p.m. to close before 9 p.m. on weekends. At (...)

12-18-2019 ■ The Association of Drivers in Burundi (ATRABU) requests the revision of the measure taken to increase the price of vehicle technical inspection service and transport permit in force since 9 December. The cost of technical inspection service increased from BIF20, 000 to 57,000 while the transport permit increased from (...)

12-04-2019 ■ The Association of Burundi Industrialists (AIB) reveals that this sector confronts financial and technical problems. “Burundi industry faces the lack of energy, foreign currencies and reliable and developed infrastructure,” said Olivier Suguru, chairman of the Association of Burundi Industrialists. It was in an exchange workshop organized by AIB along (...)

11-27-2019 ■ The Minister of Energy and Mines has banned any gold business in the country. Only Burundi Central Bank is allowed to buy and sell gold. A local corruption watchdog applauds the decision but doubts its implementation. “The purchase and sale of gold by shop counters is now suspended,” said (...)

11-26-2019 ■ Official of Burundi Cement Company says the scarcity of BUCECO cement observed for almost two months was due to the technical problems that occurred in the company. He reassures that the cement is now available. The shortage of the cement manufactured by Burundi Cement Company (BUCECO) has been observed (...)

11-26-2019 ■ Trading activities under umbrellas are no longer authorized in Bujumbura city since this November 22. Freddy Mbonimpa, Bujumbura Mayor said the decision concerns the three urban communes of Bujumbura city. Dealers of airtime cards and money transfer in Mukaza urban city are lamenting. Umbrellas of Lumitel or Econet phone (...)

11-15-2019 ■ “Exchange offices must comply with the rates set by the central bank,” says Prosper Ngendanganya, Director of Supervision, Financial Stability and Financial Inclusion in Burundi Central Bank –BRB. He says the decision has been taken after a meeting organized between the central bank and shareholders of exchange offices this (...)

11-15-2019 ■ Prices of beans, rice, meat… have significantly increased in the last three months in Bujumbura city. The price of a kg of beans known as “yellow beans” has moved from BIF 1800 to BIF 2100 in the last three months. “We get food supplies at a high price and (...)

10-11-2019 ■ Traders in “Quartier Asiatique” neighborhood of Bujumbura city say they face the scarcity of cement since last week. They deplore the lack of foreign currencies to import it. At 9 a.m. in Quartier Asiatique of Bujumbura city, construction materials such as irons, metal sheets, etc. can be seen in (...)

10-11-2019 ■ Donatien Manirampa, Director General of the Agency for Regulatory and Control of Telecommunications in Burundi-ARCT says about 53% of Burundians are in possession of cell phones, but only around 10% of them have access to internet. “The internet penetration rate remains low due to the telecommunication antennas installed in (...)