FATF Status

Burundi is not on the FATF List of Countries that have been identified as having strategic AML deficiencies

Compliance with FATF Recommendations

Burundi has not yet undertaken a Mutual Evaluation Report relating to the implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards.

Burundi continues to struggle with widespread corruption, particularly grand corruption, despite the government's efforts to combat it. Political elites and former officials misuse their positions to embezzle public resources, and existing anti-corruption laws are poorly enforced, with many officials enjoying immunity from prosecution. The lack of transparency in government procurement and the disbanding of the anti-corruption court further exacerbate the issue, making it a significant barrier to foreign investment.

Burundi is one of the world's most impoverished countries, with 87% of its population living below the World Bank's poverty line of $2.15 per day, and a significant portion reliant on subsistence agriculture. The economy faces challenges such as high youth unemployment, estimated at 65%, and persistent foreign exchange shortages that hinder investment and growth. Despite government efforts to modernize agriculture and attract foreign direct investment, issues like corruption and an ill-equipped bureaucracy continue to impede economic progress.

Burundi's investment climate is challenged by pervasive corruption, an ill-equipped bureaucracy, and deficiencies in the rule of law, which hinder foreign direct investment (FDI) despite government efforts to improve the business environment. The government has enacted a new Mining Code to stimulate the mining sector and is working on infrastructure improvements to facilitate trade, but significant issues such as a largely unskilled workforce and insufficient access to foreign currency remain barriers to attracting substantial investments.