BUJUMBURA, June 16 (ABP) – Members of the government of Burundi responded to questions from journalists and the public on Friday, June 13, 2025. This took place during a public broadcast held at the Cibitoke stadium.
Burundi Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca first presented a positive assessment of the government, focusing particularly on the organization of the legislative and communal elections, as well as the general census of the population, housing, agriculture, and livestock. He commended the resumption of maize harvest purchases by the national agency for the management of the food security stock (ANAGESSA) at the price of 1,700 BFI per kilo.
Among the questions from journalists was the issue of the salary policy, which has yet to be implemented in state organizations with special bylaws. The Prime Minister replied that a commission under the Prime Minister’s Office is handling this issue and has already made satisfactory progress.
Regarding the 2025-2026 budget forecasts to address this issue, the minister of finance, budget and economic planning, Nestor Ntahontuye, stated that it is difficult to determine the exact amount to be allocated, as the related data is not yet available. However, he indicated that once the data is collected, the amount will be included in the upcoming budget revision.
On the issue of price non-compliance, the minister responsible for the interior, Martin Niteretse, explained that concrete measures have been taken to ensure that set prices are respected. He urged administrative officials at all levels to continue enforcing prices and to report and punish violators when necessary.
Another issue raised was the devaluation of the national currency against foreign currencies. On this matter, the minister responsible for finance noted that foreign currencies are insufficient in Burundi compared to their demand. To address this, he emphasized the need to increase and diversify exportable products. He also pointed out that the mining sector will soon contribute to the inflow of foreign currencies to the Bank of the Republic of Burundi (BRB). Expected foreign currency revenues for this fiscal year amount to over 200 billion BFI, he revealed, adding that the BRB is also working on proper regulation of the country’s monetary circulation.
Regarding the legislative and communal elections held on June 5, 2025, which were reportedly won 100% by a single party, journalists expressed concerns about the decline of democracy. In response, the Prime Minister stated that Burundians had expressed themselves and voted for the party that best meets their aspirations.