Transport in Burundi

The road network is Burundi’s central transport system and covers approximately 11,000 kilometres. It includes national roads (RN), provincial roads (RP), municipal roads (RC), rural roads and urban streets. According to the available research, only around 12 percent of the network was in good condition. Rain, flooding, landslides and weak drainage can lengthen travel times or temporarily interrupt individual connections. Important regional links run through the Northern Corridor via Rwanda and Uganda to Mombasa, through the Central Corridor to Dar es Salaam, and through the Southern Corridor towards the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia and southern Africa. Around 90 percent of freight transport takes place by road; approximately 70 percent of trade is attributed to the Central Corridor. The road authority (Office des Routes) and national road fund (Fonds Routier National) are primarily responsible for maintenance. Depending on the task, the Directorate General of Transport (Direction Générale des Transports), the public transport and logistics operator (OTRACO), the national police (Police Nationale), and the tax and customs administration have additional responsibilities. Public passenger transport mainly consists of buses, car taxis and motorcycle taxis. Services are concentrated especially in Bujumbura, Gitega and connections between cities. A complete, current nationwide overview of stops, timetables and fares could not be established from the available sources. Access, frequency, price, safety and seasonal availability therefore depend heavily on the location, operator and road condition; passengers usually confirm departure and price at a station, with an agency or directly on site. Road traffic is regulated by Law No. 1/26 of 23 November 2012. It covers, among other things, public roads, motor vehicles, bicycles, carts, pedestrians, registration, driving licences, transport permits, traffic signs and sanctions. Vehicles used for paid passenger or freight transport require a technical inspection and a transport permit. The technical inspection takes place every six months for such vehicles and generally every twelve months for private or business-use vehicles. The permit is issued twice a day; the current fee schedule and the verified journey logbook should be checked locally. Within built-up areas, the general maximum speed is 50 km/h; outside built-up areas it is 80 km/h, and on divided roads it is 100 km/h. Paid passenger vehicles are subject to lower limits of 40 km/h in built-up areas and 70 km/h outside built-up areas. Vehicles weighing more than ten tonnes may travel at no more than 90, 80 or 50 km/h, depending on the type of road. Motorcycle taxis require a professional card, proof of competence and an annual medical examination. The driver may carry no more than one passenger; both driver and passenger must wear a helmet, and the driver must wear a marked vest. Pedestrians and cyclists are among the road users particularly at risk in cities. Sidewalks, cycle paths, safe crossings, lighting and traffic-calming measures are lacking in many places. Walking and cycling therefore often also provide connections between residential areas, stops and workplaces, without a nationwide protected network having been established. A World Bank-supported concept includes cycle paths, footpaths, crossings, bus stops, waiting shelters, lighting and traffic-safety monitoring, among other elements. The Port of Bujumbura connects Lake Tanganyika with Kigoma, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia. The waterway currently has particular importance for freight and logistics; a reliable regular passenger timetable could not be established. Renovation of the port began on 17 August 2023 and, according to the available project status, is scheduled for completion by 31 December 2027. Port authorities, customs, immigration authorities and the lake police are involved; a shared clearance system is planned. No regular passenger or freight railway service could be established in Burundi. Rail transport is regulated by law, but the Uvinza–Musongati railway line is under construction. The project began on 16 August 2025 and is intended to cover approximately 282 kilometres, include eight stations, and provide connections with three stations in Burundi and five in Tanzania. The estimated construction period of six years describes infrastructure planning and does not guarantee current train service. Melchior Ndadaye International Airport is the central air transport hub. For 2024, 4,798 aircraft movements, 276,759 passengers and 2,392.16 tonnes of freight were recorded. International road, water and air connections are currently significantly more important for travel and trade than a domestic scheduled service that does not exist. Vehicle owners must comply with registration, a driving licence, liability insurance and technical inspection requirements. Operators need a permit or registration depending on their activity. Relevant authorities include the transport administration, the public transport operator, the road authority, the national road fund, the national police, the tax and customs administration, and port and aviation authorities. Current complaint procedures, fare disputes and uniform nationwide tariffs were not sufficiently documented in the available sources.