05-16-2017 ■ On May 12, the Minister of Finance issued a Ministerial Ordinance exempting six food products from tax. Consumers and traders say these products are not enough given the economic situation in Burundi. “Cassava and cassava flour, maize and maize flour, rice and dried beans are the products exempt from (...)

05-04-2017 ■ The Minister of Energy and Mining announced yesterday that petroleum products will now be distributed only at fuel stations and in daytime from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The decision is taken after a serious lack of fuel that has been observed in the country since the last few (...)

03-15-2017 ■ While the world celebrates the Consumer Rights Day this 15 March, the Burundian association of consumers (ABUCO) says its members don’t actually enjoy their rights. “How on earth could we say that consumer rights are respected when some measures are imposed without our consent?” says a consumer from the (...)

12-20-2016 ■ The Burundian Association of Consumers-ABUCO and the Center for Fight against Corruption and Economic Embezzlement- OLUCOME say they are not pleased with the decision by the public company in charge of supplying water and electricity-REGIDESO to increase the price of electricity. ABUCO says the decision comes to worsen the (...)

12-06-2016 ■ Brarudi, which is the largest producer of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in Burundi, has increased the price of soft drinks by BIF 100 from BIF 600 to BIF 700 from 5 December 2016. The company justifies the decision by “the increase in prices of imported raw materials used to (...)

11-11-2016 ■ The price of the staple foods has increased by up to 67% at a key market in Bujumbura. At the Buyenzi Market called “Chez Sion”, the price of rice from Zambia has risen to BIF 400 per kilo from BIF 1200 just one month ago. Rice from Tanzania costs (...)

01-16-2015 ■ On 21 December 2014, parliamentarians voted a law revising the budget for 2015. The law allows the Burundi government to increase the tax on mobile calls.Both citizens and foreigners warn against taking strict measures against the law.-By Jean Berchmans Siboniyo The imposed tax is Bif 42 per minute on (...)

01-10-2015 ■ Users of public transport wonder why the price of transport is still at the same price while the fuel price has been reduced. The problem is that there is no consultation between those who are concerned.–By Yves Didier Irakoze “I heard on the radio that the price of fuel (...)