The Dutch government has announced the closure of several embassies and consulates around the world, including in Burundi, as part of sweeping budget cuts.
This was confirmed in a letter by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Caspar Veldkamp, addressed to the Dutch Parliament.
“I plan to close five embassies and two consulates,” the minister wrote. “These include embassies in Bujumbura (Burundi), Havana (Cuba), Juba (South Sudan), Tripoli (Libya), and Yangon (Myanmar), and consulates in Antwerp and Rio de Janeiro.”
The decision is part of the Dutch government’s effort to reduce expenditures, aiming to save around $25 million.
Overall, the Netherlands plans to cut 25% of the budget allocated to various ministries.
The closure of the Bujumbura embassy is particularly notable, as the Netherlands has historically been one of Burundi’s major donors.
World Bank data shows that in 2022 alone, the Netherlands provided Burundi with approximately $39.9 million in aid.
Furthermore, between 2023 and 2027, the Netherlands had committed €160 million in support to Burundi in sectors such as food security, reproductive health, human rights, and youth employment.
