BUJUMBURA, June 11 (ABP) – The Cabinet met on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in Gitega, under the chairmanship of the President of the Republic of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye, revealed a press release issued by the Secretary-General of the State, Jérôme Niyonzima.
Among items on the agenda, was the draft law on the ratification by the Government of the Republic of Burundi of the loan agreement related to the development and asphalting of National Road No. 16 – phase II, which was presented by the minister of Infrastructure, Equipment, and Social Housing, Dieudonné Dukundane.
According to the press release, National Road No. 16 (Mutambara–Bururi–Mweya), which connects the south of Burundi to the center of the country (at Mweya), the entrance to the political capital of Burundi, extends over a length of 106.7 km. Only a portion of this road located in the middle is passable in all seasons. To ensure smooth traffic and rational use of this road, it has been deemed essential to rehabilitate the damaged sections.
In this context, the Government of Burundi approached the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa to obtain a loan for the rehabilitation of these segments. This draft ratification law concerns a loan of 60 million US dollars from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa for the development of these sections. Following discussions, the project was adopted.
Another item reviewed was the draft decree amending decree No. 100/273 of December 6, 2021, which itself amended decree No. 100/107 of April 7, 2021, establishing, overseeing, and coordinating the Youth Economic Empowerment and Employment Program (PAEEJ), which was presented by the minister of East African Community affairs, youth, sports, and culture, Gervais Abayeho. This draft decree is proposed in order to comply with the new law on administrative redistricting and the law reorganizing municipal administration. According to that press release, the goal is also to make the PAEEJ sustainable and more efficient by granting it greater administrative and financial autonomy.
Following the review, the draft decree was adopted with substantive and formal amendments. It was also decided that the oversight of the program will be ensured by the Prime Minister’s office, and its supervision will fall under the Presidency of the Republic, taking into account the multisectoral nature of the PAEEJ.
Also on the agenda was the draft decree granting a mining license for titanium and associated minerals in the Ndora I perimeter in Bukinanyana commune, Cibitoke province, in favor of the company SONALEK MINING COMPANY LIMITED, which was presented by the minister of water, energy, and mines, Ibrahim Uwizeye.
According to the content of this press release, SONALEK Mining Company Ltd expressed interest in exploiting the titanium and associated mineral deposit in the Ndora I perimeter. The release also states that this mining company submitted to the State a study plan to extract an estimated 108,000 tons of titanium ore during the first phase. The project will be implemented in three phases over a period of fifteen years, the statement specifies, adding that the State of Burundi is providing the company with access to land and subsoil as required for the project. It was also emphasized that the company holds only the right to exploit.
Regarding the sharing of production, it was mentioned that revenue sharing will be based on proceeds from the sale of the production, with the State receiving 30% of the total revenue and 70% allocated to the operating company, net of the amortization fund. After discussion and debate, the project was adopted, with recommendations including clarification of the specific hill actually involved in the exploitation.
Another item analyzed by the Cabinet was the regional emergency preparedness and access to inclusive economic recovery program, which was presented by a representative of the minister of finance, budget, and economic planning. This is a program developed by the World Bank, aimed at strengthening the financial and operational resilience of countries so they can respond to natural and climate hazards quickly and effectively.
It will be implemented in 12 African countries facing the risk of natural disasters, including droughts, floods, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, and pandemics. The total funding amounts to 926 million USD, with an allocation of 70 million USD earmarked for Burundi. The Cabinet authorized the continuation of negotiations for this project due to its importance.