NTAHA.GWA, April 22 (ABP) – The minister of finance, budget and digital economy, Alain Ndikumana, presented on Friday, April 10, 2026, before members of parliament meeting in plenary session, the multi-year budgetary and economic programming document, including the management of budgetary risks and their implications for public finances.
Minister Ndikumana indicated that the financial sector plays a central role in financing the State’s public finances.
Beyond tax and parafiscal revenues from financial institutions, the State also receives dividends from banks in which it holds shares. He also pointed out that this sector constitutes an important source of financing for the budget deficit through subscriptions to treasury bills and bonds issued by the State. In this regard, any instability in the financial sector may put pressure on public revenues, worsen the budgetary situation, and force the State to revise its expenditures.
Mr. Ndikumana also noted that financial risk can be transmitted through the State’s shareholdings in the capital of certain banks.
The State is in fact a 100% shareholder in two commercial banks and holds significant stakes in five other banking institutions.
In this context, difficulties encountered by one of these institutions could require State intervention, particularly in the form of recapitalization, thus leading to an increase in public spending and pressure on budget balances, including investment expenditures.
To limit these risks, the minister in charge of finance indicated that the Bank of the Republic of Burundi (BRB) has put in place macroprudential instruments aimed at strengthening the stability of the banking sector. These measures notably concern capital requirements, solvency ratios, financial leverage, and liquidity standards.
Finally, he specified that recent indicators show an improvement in the resilience of the banking sector. In 2024, core capital of credit institutions increased by 18%, rising from 835,702 MBIF to 985,807 MBIF, while total capital increased by 17.8%, from 909,121 MBIF in 2023 to 1,071,251 MBIF in 2024. According to him, this evolution reflects a strengthening of the banking sector’s capacity to absorb shocks and contain risks, thereby contributing to the stability of public finances.