State in Burundi

The Constitution of 7 June 2018 describes Burundi as a sovereign, secular, democratic and unitary republic. The state territory is considered indivisible, and state authority derives from the people. Kirundi is the national language. Kirundi and other languages designated by law have official status; legislative texts receive a Kirundi version. The executive is headed by the President of the Republic, the Vice-President and the government. The president directs the government hierarchically. The Prime Minister’s Office (Primature) coordinates government work. Decree No. 100/002 of 5 August 2025 establishes the structure of government and the responsibilities of the ministries. The legislature consists of the National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) and the Senate (Sénat). Both debate and pass laws, represent the population and oversee the government. This includes oversight of the state budget and parliamentary committees for defence and security. The judiciary includes, among others, the Superior Council of the Magistracy (Conseil Supérieur de la Magistrature), the Supreme Court (Cour Suprême), the Constitutional Court (Cour Constitutionnelle) and the High Court of Justice (Haute Cour de Justice). The Constitutional Court reviews the constitutionality of legal norms, interprets the Constitution and decides certain institutional referrals. Matters concerning elections and referendums fall within its remit only insofar as they concern the jurisdiction of this institution. Since the 2025 territorial reform, Burundi has consisted of the five provinces Bujumbura, Buhumuza, Gitega, Burunga and Butanyerera and 42 communes (Communes). Each province is headed by a provincial governor (Gouverneur de Province), and each commune by a communal administrator (Administrateur communal). Below them are zones (Zones) and hills (Collines) or quarters (Quartiers). Sources on implementation cite 451 zones and 3,044 hills or quarters; older legislative descriptions cite 447 zones and 3,036 hills or quarters. The difference is related to the ongoing implementation of the reform in 2025 and 2026. New sectoral provincial directorates and communal departments are intended to carry out state functions more locally; the communal administrator coordinates the communal level. Central ministries and provincial and communal administrations share administrative responsibilities. The Ministry of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security (Ministère de l’Intérieur, du Développement communautaire et de la Sécurité) is responsible, among other things, for internal affairs, community development and public security. For a government service, the route depends on the task and may lead through the commune, zone, hill or quarter or to the responsible ministry. Fees, documents and processing times depend on the specific service; no uniform nationwide processing period can be derived from this. Since 2022, Burundi has used program-based budgeting. For the 2026/2027 fiscal year, revenues of 6,347.21 billion BIF and expenditures of 6,732.17 billion BIF were approved. The planned deficit is 384.96 billion BIF. The Ministry of Finance manages budget preparation and oversight, while the Burundi Revenue Office (OBR) collects taxes and other charges. Digitalization, broadening the tax base and combating fraud and smuggling are ongoing priorities. Provincial and communal priorities are intended to be incorporated into PTBA and PAP. Several institutions oversee government action. The Court of Auditors (Cour des Comptes) reviews public accounts, legality, regularity and efficiency and reports to the National Assembly. The Ombudsman receives complaints about administrative errors, mediates between the administration and citizens and issues recommendations. The National Assembly appoints the Ombudsman by a three-quarters majority, and the Senate by a two-thirds majority; the term lasts six years and cannot be renewed. The National Independent Human Rights Commission (CNIDH) receives human-rights complaints, investigates allegations, visits detention facilities, supports victims and witnesses and issues recommendations. It also offers an online complaint procedure and a toll-free hotline. The State General Inspectorate (Inspection Générale de l’Etat) and the Special Anti-Corruption Brigade (Brigade Spéciale Anticorruption) complement administrative and anti-corruption oversight. The independent administrative authority, the National Communication Council (CNC), supervises the media, journalists and print, audiovisual and electronic communications. Freedom of communication applies under the law and is subject to the limits of public order and good morals. The right of reply and correction is among the media rights provided for. The legally authorized defence and security forces (corps de défense et de sécurité), especially the Burundi Defence Force (FDNB) and the Burundi National Police (PNB), are responsible for state security. The government exercises state direction; the Constitution provides for parliamentary oversight, accountability and transparency. No other armed organization is authorized alongside these institutions. For civilian concerns, the first route usually leads to the police or local administration, although the specific security situation depends on the location. Tax and charge obligations are governed by the applicable financial and sector-specific law. Rights, recommendations and decisions have different degrees of legal binding force depending on the responsible institution.