Burundi mining sector management and land disputes

Burundi is experiencing significant tension regarding the management and legality of its mining sector. President Evariste Ndayishimiye has criticized the industry for opacity, alleging that mining rights are distributed through private arrangements rather than official decrees, which prevents the national treasury from receiving adequate revenue.

Reports from the Burunga province indicate that these issues have escalated to local land disputes. Residents in several communes claim they are facing forced and opaque land expropriations intended to facilitate mining activities without consultation or compensation.

Furthermore, the Burundi National Defence Force (FDNB) has reportedly been deployed to secure gold extraction sites in the Burambi and Bugarama areas. Local populations suggest this military presence is used to intimidate those protesting environmental and material damages. Sources close to the Ministry of Energy and Mines have indicated that some of these operations are not registered with state services and are operating outside the legal framework.