Financial Crime World

Burundi: No Real Progress in the Fight Against Corruption and Bad Governance

Despite President Ndayishimiye’s claims that fighting corruption is a priority, Burundi’s ranking on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) remains dire. In 2020, the country ranked 165 out of 180 countries, highlighting the severity of the problem.

Lack of Concrete Measures

The government has failed to implement effective measures to address corruption. A recent project aimed at abolishing the Anti-Corruption Special Court and Anti-Corruption Special Police Unit has sparked controversy, with many questioning its effectiveness in preventing corruption.

  • The collective dismissal of public servants accused of corruption may be too little, too late.
  • The government has failed to implement significant sanctions for acts of corruption, providing no effective deterrent against graft.
  • Efficiency of specialized anti-corruption institutions needs improvement.
  • Transparency and good governance in the management of natural resources must be promoted.

Recent Developments

Recent events have raised concerns about the government’s commitment to tackling corruption. The dismissal of the Minister of Trade, Transport, Industry and Tourism due to allegations of corruption was seen as a positive step, but:

  • The unilateral suspension of all mining contracts has been criticized for being too little, too late.
  • Inconsistencies and reversals regarding the implementation of state officials’ constitutional obligation to declare their assets have raised eyebrows.

International Community’s Calls

The international community has called on Burundi to take concrete steps to address corruption, including:

  • Implementing the OECD Due Diligence Guidelines for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas.
  • Complying with the ICGLR Mineral Tracking and Certification System.
  • Fully adhering to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

Conclusion

Without a comprehensive and sustained approach to tackling corruption, Burundi’s development will continue to be hindered by bad governance and poverty. The government must take concrete steps to address this issue if it is to make meaningful progress in human rights, development, and good governance.