02-18-2020 ■ All currency exchange offices have been closed since February 15 following the measure taken on 11 February by Jean Ciza, Governor of Burundi Central Bank. He accuses foreign exchange dealers of violating the current currency exchange regulations. Only commercial banks are allowed to deal with foreign currencies. This measure (...)

02-13-2020 ■ Gabriel Rufyiri, Chairman of a corruption watchdog-OLUCOME says the decision taken by the Burundi Central Bank-BRB doesn’t provide any solution to the problem of the lack of foreign currencies in Burundi. He says the country faces a major challenge since financial partners reduced their support to the government in (...)

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 (...)

11-15-2019 ■ “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 (...)

10-10-2019 ■ While discussing the new regulations of the Central Bank on foreign exchange this October 9th, owners of foreign currency exchange offices in Burundi have said they suffer the shortage of foreign currencies. “Our clients do not get foreign currencies because we do not have enough of them,” says Alexandre (...)

09-28-2019 ■ In the morning of this September 27th, some foreign exchange dealers without bureaus have been arrested by the police after others were arrested a day before in the city center of Bujumbura. The junction of Prince Louis Rwagasore roadway and Amitié Street, near Ndamama House in the city center (...)

09-18-2019 ■ “The minimum capital to establish a foreign exchange bureau has been raised to strengthen the equity,” said Jean Ciza, Governor of Burundi Central Bank (BRB) yesterday at a press briefing. The starting capital rises from BIF 50 million to 100 million. He has granted to traders one year to (...)

09-29-2018 ■ The National Security Council has decided to suspend all foreign NGOs operating in Burundi for three months since Monday 1 October. It accuses them of not abiding by the law. Silas Ntigurirwa, Secretary General of the National Security Council says the measure has been taken so that NGOs operating (...)

04-10-2018 ■ Rainbow Mining Burundi (RMB) has reached 25% of its objectives in 6 months of operation. According to the Director General of RMB, the fact of transferring the payment of exported products to the account of Burundi Central Bank and the lack of experienced personnel are the major challenges that (...)

11-07-2017 ■ The central bank has recently revised the law on banks and included some innovations. Some of them are the protection of consumers of financial services and improved access to credit. Based on daily activities and Burundi integration into the East African community, the Central Bank decided to review some (...)