Burundi: Ndayishimiye toughens his stance against those who embezzle public funds

Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye wants to toughen the fight against corruption. On October 9, 2026, at the Kiriri Palace in Bujumbura, he launched the implementation of the National Strategy to Combat Corruption and Economic Malfeasance for the period 2026-2030, with measures targeting public officials involved in embezzlement.

Among the measures announced is the inclusion of individuals convicted of corruption on a blacklist, after the embezzled funds have been returned. This list is intended to prevent these individuals from holding future public office. The president also wants the private sector to take this into account during recruitment processes.

Public procurement, finance, health, education, justice, the police, and tax administration are among the sectors identified as particularly vulnerable to corruption. The head of state specifically denounced the embezzlement of public funds, the concealment of state revenue, and the acceptance of bribes.

The strategy also includes mobilizing citizens even in the hills, through joint anti-corruption committees. A three-month national awareness campaign is intended to promote integrity and encourage the reporting of fraudulent practices.

Beyond the announcements, the challenge will be to translate these measures into concrete results, particularly in the control of public finances and the punishment of illegal practices. The legal modalities for implementing the blacklist, in particular, still need to be defined.

Yolande Bazié