In Burundi, over 15 million US dollars expected in the state treasury for the 2023–2024 fiscal year have gone missing, according to Finance Minister Ntahontuye Nestor.
Economist and University of Massachusetts professor Léonce Ndikumana revealed that between 2000 and 2019, Burundi reported gold exports worth $765 million, while the purchasing countries claimed to have paid $1.4 billion. This leaves an unexplained gap of $635 million.
To address this issue, the Burundian government suspended contracts with mining companies in 2023, aiming to regulate the mining sector independently.
Former fighter Marcel Nduwayo told President Évariste Ndayishimiye that rampant theft is plaguing the country. He cited an example comparing Rwanda and Burundi: in Rwanda, mineral samples are tested quickly, but in Burundi, testing can take hours, sometimes ending with unclear excuses. He said, “If it’s not about sharing the loot, it’s about suspicion and deception.”
During a meeting with local leaders in March 2025, President Ndayishimiye stated that the shortage of petroleum products is due to looting by certain government officials. He remarked, “I don’t understand how a country with such vast mineral wealth remains poor. In Cibitoke province, we found gold with a purity of 87%. I don’t see why we are not making progress.”
The President promised a 10% reward to any citizen who provides information on minerals hidden by government officials.
