03-20-2020 ■ Ezéchiel Nibigira, Minister of Foreign Affairs says visa applications are suspended until further notice. He, however, says the decision doesn’t mean the closure of Burundian borders. “The measure has been taken to prevent COVID-19 outbreak in Burundi”, he says. It was in the meeting with diplomatic corps and consular (...)

03-20-2020 ■ Following the rejection of candidacy files of some political parties in the legislative election, members of Kira Burundi coalition accuses Uprona party of hampering the process. Tatien Sibomana, spokesperson for the independent coalition “Amizero y’Abarundi” and member of Kira Burundi coalition says their rejection means violating the Arusha Agreement. (...)

03-19-2020 ■ Thaddée Ndikumana, Minister of Public Health says there has not been any suspected case of COVID-19 in Burundi until 18 March. “There is no need to wear masks on the mouth. This is embezzlement and it creates panic among the population,” he says adding that only suspected cases, affected (...)

03-18-2020 ■ Prosper Ngendanganya, Director of Supervision, Financial Stability and Inclusion at Burundi Central Bank –BRB says the decision has been taken to supervise all movement of foreign currency exchange in Burundi. “All foreign instant transfers including operations done through Western union and MoneyGram will be operated in Burundian francs,” he (...)

03-17-2020 ■ In an attempt to prevent the spread of Corona virus which has already been reported in the neighboring countries, the Public Health Minister has asked people to avoid shaking hands and hugging. Thaddée Ndikumana, the Burundian Minister of Public Health says all passengers from the UK, USA and Australia (...)

03-13-2020 ■ Commercial activities between Rugombo commune in Cibitoke province and Luvungi city in the DRC were suspended over a week. Traders from both localities plead for their resumption. All trade activities have been suspended on Rubenga border between Rugombo commune and Luvungi city in Uvira province of South Kivu in (...)

03-12-2020 ■ At least 34 passengers from China, South Korea, Italy, France, German, Japan and Iran are kept in quarantine at “Source du Nil” hotel since 6 March. Any visit to “Source du Nil” hotel, is prohibited. Protective masks on the mouths, police officers from Rapid Intervention Mobile Group-GMIR improve security (...)

03-12-2020 ■ Aline Ndikumana, the spouse of a CNL party secretary in Nyabiraba commune in Bujumbura province and her son are now free after six months of detention. She was sentenced to two years of imprisonment and a fine of BIF 100 thousand for illegal possession of firearms. Aline Ndikumana, the (...)

03-12-2020 ■ Léonce Ngendakumana, Deputy Chairperson of Sahwanya FRODEBU party says different reports on human rights and political intolerance in Burundi are often times produced by the UN Commission of Inquiry. “These reports reveal the security and political situation prevailing in the country but nothing changes. The recent incident that occurred (...)

03-11-2020 ■ Out of 10 presidential candidacy files, four don’t meet the required conditions. The rejected candidates say they will appeal to the Constitutional Court. They are Jacques Bigirimana, presidential candidate for FNL party, Anicet Niyonkuru for CDP party, Valentin Kavakure for FPN-Imboneza party and former President Domitien Ndayizeye for Kira (...)