PARCEM concerned about Burundi alarming economic situation

The local NGO PARCEM says Burundi is in a critical situation as all reports produced all along 2017 place it in the last position. The organisation says it is up to each and everyone to review their contribution to avoid further chaos.

Faustin Ndikumana: “More than 55 % of youth in urban area and over 60% in rural area are unemployed while 75% of the whole population are young”

A low ranking, youth unemployment, extreme poverty, a GDP per capita inferior to USD 300 per person and food crisis are among others the great indicators that Burundi is turning into chaos. Faustin Ndikumana, Chairman of PARCEM, the local NGO concerned with awakening and changing people’s mentality alerts all Burundians. “The situation is alarming. Everybody has to review what they are doing. The government, the opposition, all the organisations and the population have to give their contributions”, he says.

Ndikumana says Burundi was ranked among the three poorest countries in the world. “Among 188 countries classified by UNDP report, Burundi was among the three poorest countries and in a report done by IMF, it was the last”, he says.

He adds that youth unemployment shows that Burundi is going to be plunged into chaos. “More than 55 % of youth in urban area and over 60% in rural area are unemployed while 75% of the whole population are young”, he says.

According to a study conducted by Burundian Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (ISTEEBU), 2 out of 3 people live in extreme poverty. “This research shows that about 80% of the population in different provinces live in abject poverty,” he says.

The same institution shows that Burundi holds the last position by its GDP per capita. “Burundi is the last country in the EAC which has a low GDP. Kenya has USD1677 per person, Uganda, USD 700 per person, Tanzania, USD 1040 per person and Burundi has less than USD 300 per person”, he says.

The chairman of PARCEM says the current Burundi situation is alarming and calls on everyone’s involvement to prevent the country from keeping sliding into economic chaos.