Burundi’s Quiet Reawakening: A Nation Not to Be Underestimated

Bujumbura, 01 August 2025, Burundi, long sidelined by regional giants and weighed down by history, is forging ahead under a bold new vision, quietly but powerfully. Led by President Évariste Ndayishimiye, this landlocked nation is defying old assumptions with strategic reforms, renewed economic ambition, and a long-term roadmap that reaches far beyond tomorrow.

Vision 2040–2060: Laying the Foundation for a New Burundi

At the core of Burundi’s transformation lies Vision 2040–2060, a structured plan to elevate the nation into an emerging economy by 2040 and a developed one by 2060. Anchored in four strategic pillars- economic diversification, institutional transparency, infrastructure expansion, and human capital development- the plan emphasizes national sovereignty, resilience, and sustainable progress.

President Ndayishimiye, popularly known as Neva-Wacu, has described this mission as a historic turning point for Burundi. His leadership is marked not only by vision but by implementation. And now, the results are starting to show.

From Planning to Performance: Real Economic Gains

In fiscal year 2024–25, Burundi’s national budget increased by 15.9%, reaching approximately 4.4 trillion Burundian francs (~$1.5 billion), a significant indicator of growing state capacity. Economic growth projections jumped from 4.2% to 5.4%, thanks to public infrastructure investments, better-performing agriculture, and a resurgent mining sector.

This upward momentum isn’t a guess; it’s grounded in field results. International bodies like the World Bank and Reuters have affirmed the trend: Burundi’s economy is no longer stuck. It’s moving.

Energy: Powering Progress with Clean Ambition

One of the most transformational sectors is energy. In June 2025, the first phase of the Jiji-Mulembwe hydropower project, valued at $320 million, was commissioned, paving the way toward energy self-sufficiency. This major development was supported by the European Investment Bank and other international partners.

It follows the Kabu-16 hydropower plant, which began operation in late 2024, delivering 20 MW as the largest government-led renewable energy facility in Burundi’s history.

Meanwhile, solar innovation is also reshaping rural access. The Mubuga Solar Power Station (7.5 MW) now delivers electricity to over 90,000 people, with expansion underway to 15 MW. It’s Burundi’s first major solar plant, and a symbol of sustainable ambition.

Reconnecting the Region: The Rail That Could Change Everything

For a landlocked country, connectivity is destiny. That’s why the ongoing construction of the Tanzania–Burundi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR)- part of a $900 million bilateral agreement- is a game-changer.

This electrified railway will link Burundi to the port of Dar es Salaam, opening access for mineral exports, agricultural trade, and regional commerce under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework. For the first time, Burundi is not only moving—it’s connecting.

Farming the Future: From Coffee to Avocados

Burundi’s transformation isn't just urban or industrial, it’s rooted in the soil. Avocado farming is emerging as a key rural success story. Through cooperatives like Green Gold Burundi, farmers have boosted export prices from $0.10 to $0.70 per kg, cutting out exploitative middlemen and strengthening local ownership.

The government has rolled out plans to plant 50,000 avocado trees per province across all 17 provinces, gradually reducing Burundi’s overdependence on coffee and tea. More than 200,000 farmers are already participating in this “green gold” shift, proving that prosperity can grow where dignity is planted.

Institutional Renewal & Global Partnerships

Burundi’s political capital, Gitega, has become the nerve center of reform. In December 2024, a high-level Round Table on Development brought together government leaders, global investors, and regional allies like former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, representing Nigerian investor delegations. Their mission: to back Burundi’s development with real capital.Key outcomes included commitments to:

• Rebuild Bujumbura’s central market

• Asphalt key provincial roads

• Digitize civil, land, and justice services

• Secure land titles across rural areas

These reforms are not cosmetic. They’re crafted to unlock private investment, restore trust in state systems, and raise living standards.

The Numbers Speak: Measurable Targets by 2040

Burundi isn’t relying on hope; it’s measuring everything.

Each annual budget is aligned with these metrics, ensuring that aspirations are matched by accountability.

A New Chapter, Quiet but Unstoppable

In his book "A Nation on the March – 60 Years of Traps Thwarted," Dr. Benjamin Ndagijimana and his co-authors capture the essence of Burundi’s rebirth. It is not about denying the past, but overcoming it. It is about charting a future where resilience replaces reliance, and where Burundi tells its own story, not as a country to pity, but a nation to respect.

As Dr. Ndagijimana wrote:

With steady reforms, development allies, and a people no longer defined by crisis, Burundi is no longer a forgotten state; it’s a rising one.