Political Risk:
Very High
Score:
21/100
1
33/100
Is there formal provision for effective and independent legislative scrutiny of defence policy?
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The Constitution of the Republic of Burundi requires the defence forces to work transparently. Article 249 stipulates that parliamentary committees must be set up…
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Parliament never debates Burundi’s defence policy.[1] It has in the past but not since 2011 [2]. However, there are parliamentarians who have had to…
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The Burundian parliament is often seen as a sounding board for the executive. Very rarely, if ever, does it take a direction contrary to…
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2
21/100
Does the country have an identifiable and effective parliamentary defence and security committee (or similar such organisations) to exercise oversight?
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There are defence and security committees within the National Assembly of Burundi and the Senate which are authorised to analyse all aspects of the…
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Within the various bodies, there is some expertise in defence and security. Some of them are former fighters in the various rebel movements, which…
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Decisions in the defence sector are taken regularly but the defence and security committees rarely meet to evaluate these decisions. Any questions that might…
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The Defence and Security Committee only has two opportunities to examine the budget allocated to the defence sector. These are the discussions on the…
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The idea of long-term investigations has not been incorporated into the practice of Burundi’s defence and security committees. [1] [2]
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The positions taken by the Executive in defence matters never change baccsed ording to the discussions held with the members of the Defence and…
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3
6/100
Is the country’s national defence policy or national security strategy debated and publicly available?
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There is no structured debate on defence policy or security strategies. According to the government, there is a a “politique sectorielle de la défense”,…
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The various authorities and other players who comment on defence and security issues do so in a very superficial way. What we end up…
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There are no formal consultations on defence and security issues in Burundi .[1] [2]
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Documents on defence issues and security strategy are not open to the public at all. [1] [2]
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4
8/100
Do defence and security institutions have a policy, or evidence, of openness towards civil society organisations (CSOs) when dealing with issues of corruption?
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There is no policy requiring openness to civil society organisations in the defence sector. [1] [2]
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Civil society organisations are protected by law. Some have the courage to speak out on defence and security issues. However, since 2015, civil society…
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Through the media, civil society organisations are trying to call on the government to be transparent on defence and security issues. The authorities are…
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5
63/100
Has the country signed up to the following international anti-corruption instruments: UNCAC and the OECD Convention?
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The country is not a significant defence exporter, and it has signed up and ratified at least the UNCAC Convention [1].
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In terms of legislation and institutions, Burundi has made great efforts to implement the United Nations Convention against Corruption [1] [2]. The biggest problem…
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6
25/100
Is there evidence of regular, active public debate on issues of defence? If yes, does the government participate in this debate?
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Some local media occasionally organise debates on defence issues .These debates bring together civil society activists, political opponents and academics, but they remain superficial.…
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In recent times, we have seen officials make statements on defence issues, but these have been limited, and when they have been made, they…
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7
0/100
Does the country have an openly stated and effectively implemented anti-corruption policy for the defence sector?
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In 2020, the outgoing president signed a national anti-corruption strategy but since the start of this legislature (2020-2027), no one has been able to…
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Evidence show that Burundi does not have an anti-corruption policy that also applies to the defence sector so this indicator is marked Not Applicable.…
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8
33/100
Are there independent, well-resourced, and effective institutions within defence and security tasked with building integrity and countering corruption?
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The Ministry of National Defence and Veterans has a national defence inspectorate. One of its tasks is to monitor positive values within the army…
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The above-mentioned departments, namely the Inspectorate General of the Ministry of National Defence and the Department of Troop Morale and Public Relations, are under…
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The members of these services are aware of their missions, but they recognise that they are not sufficiently equipped to play their role to…
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9
NS/100
Does the public trust the institutions of defence and security to tackle the issue of bribery and corruption in their establishments?
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This indicator is not assigned a score in the GDI. Burundians generally complain about corruption, which has become a scourge in the country. However,…
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10
42/100
Are there regular assessments of the areas of greatest corruption risk for ministry and armed forces personnel, and are the findings used as inputs to the anti-corruption policy?
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Every year, the Anti-Corruption Unit and the Court of Auditors carry out missions in the defence sector to ensure that there are no corrupt…
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The Anti-Corruption Brigade conducts corruption risk assessments within the Defence sector quite frequently. As for the Court of Auditors, its assessment is annual. [1][2].
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The results of the various evaluations are not used to develop anti-corruption policies in the Defence sector in order to change practices [1] [2].…
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11
0/100
Does the country have a process for acquisition planning that involves clear oversight, and is it publicly available?
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The budget law indicates each year the amount allocated to acquisitions in the defense sector but it never goes into detail to allow the…
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The process related to the acquisition plan within the Defence sector is opaque . The public has no access to it [1] [2]. Even…
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In reality, acquisition plans in the Defence sector should be evaluated by external bodies such as the Court of Auditors or the Defence and…
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12
38/100
Is the defence budget transparent, showing key items of expenditure? And it is provided to the legislature in a timely fashion?
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The Defence budget is broken down but in a global manner in certain headings, themselves expressed in general terms. Thus for example, there is…
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The Defence budget is a component of the annual budget law. Prepared by the executive, the draft of the latter never reaches Parliament one…
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13
50/100
Is there a legislative committee (or other appropriate body) responsible for defence budget scrutiny and analysis in an effective way?
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On paper, in Parliament, in both the National Assembly and the Senate, there is a Defence and security commission, which is authorised to analyse…
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The Defence and security committees, whether in the National Assembly or the Senate, do not have the power to change the executive’s choices regarding…
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14
17/100
Is the approved defence budget made publicly available? In practice, can citizens, civil society, and the media obtain detailed information on the defence budget?
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The Defence budget is published in the general budget law but in an aggregated way. Since it is presented to the parliament in a…
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No details are provided in the approved budget. As such, it is accessible to everyone, like the entire budget law of which it is…
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Any formal request for details on the Defence budget is met with a categorical refusal by the Defence sector authorities. To obtain some information,…
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15
17/100
Are sources of defence income other than from central government allocation (from equipment sales or property disposal, for example) published and scrutinised?
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There is total silence on the army’s other sources of income outside the general state budget. However, it is known that the Burundian army…
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Existing institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Brigade, the Anti-Corruption Court, the Court of Auditors or the General Inspectorate of Revenues can afford to ask…
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Sometimes, civil society organizations and the media try to make noise to demand more transparency or communication from state institutions, including Defence and security…
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16
19/100
Is there an effective internal audit process for defence ministry expenditure (that is, for example, transparent, conducted by appropriately skilled individuals, and subject to parliamentary oversight)?
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Internal auditing of Ministry of Defence expenditure is carried out by a unit of the Ministerial Inspectorate General [1]. This inspectorate is made up…
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The reports sent from the internal audit of the Ministry of Defence’s expenditure never go beyond this structure,as they are considered strictly internal. The…
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The internal audit reports on expenditure are kept at the Ministry of Defence and is never relayed to anti-corruption organizsations. [1] [2]
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The minister sometimes corrects certain practices when he is able to.Occasionally, certain ministry officials who are guilty of non-transparent practices are transferred to other…
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17
25/100
Is there effective and transparent external auditing of military defence expenditure?
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At the end of each year, the Court of Auditors (Cour des Comptes in French) evaluates the expenditure in the different sectors of the…
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In practice, there is no evidence of external audit of defence expenditure, so this indicator is marked Not Applicable. External control bodies such as…
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In practice, there is no evidence of external audit of defence expenditure, so this indicator is marked Not Applicable . The reports of the…
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In practice, there is no evidence of external audit of defence expenditure, so this indicator is marked Not Applicable. The Cour des Comptes has…
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18
5/100
Is there evidence that the country’s defence institutions have controlling or financial interests in businesses associated with the country’s natural resource exploitation and, if so, are these interests publicly stated and subject to scrutiny?
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Whether it is the constitution or the specific law of the Burundi National Defence Force, no text prohibits members of this body from having…
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The Burundian army is actively involved in exploiting natural resources in DR Congo [1] as there is traditionally little mining in Burundi. The army…
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Burundian civil society organizations continue to denounce the presence of high-ranking officers in the Burundian commercial sector. In particular, their names come up in…
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Evidence gathered from the interviews suggests that such individual interests exist. They are reflected in the acquisition of numerous real estate assets by the…
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Evidence from the interviews suggests that there is no form of control around these interests, including any forms of scrutiny [1] [2]. Except for…
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19
0/100
Is there evidence, for example through media investigations or prosecution reports, of a penetration of organised crime into the defence and security sector? If no, is there evidence that the government is alert and prepared for this risk?
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United Nations reports have already highlighted the collaboration between Burundi’s defence and security forces and rebel movements operating in the Democratic Republic of the…
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The Burundian government has always refused to comment on allegations that its army and police are involved in organizsed crime. Evidence suggest that no…
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20
42/100
Is there policing to investigate corruption and organised crime within the defence services and is there evidence of the effectiveness of this policing?
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There is an anti-corruption brigade created to fight corruption within state institutions, including the army and the police. In addition, a unit called Military…
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An interview revealed that these policing institutions are often exposed to interference from the authorities they are supposed to control. The Anti-Corruption Brigade is…
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Testimonies from the Anti-Corruption Brigade attest that there are cases that are the subject of serious investigations, but most of the time, they do…
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21
0/100
Are the policies, administration, and budgets of the intelligence services subject to effective and independent oversight?
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There is no form of oversight over the intelligence service has no form of control. [1]. Moreover, information from the interviews suggests that it…
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According to the Commission of Inquiry, among others, the National Intelligence Service is under the direct authority of the President and operates with impunity…
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22
0/100
Are senior positions within the intelligence services filled on the basis of objective selection criteria, and are appointees subject to investigation of their suitability and prior conduct?
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The appointment of senior officials in the national intelligence service is left to the discretion of the President of the Republic. Moreover, even the…
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The appointment to high responsibilities at the level of the national intelligence service can indeedbe considered as a gift from the executive, particularly the…
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The research found that there is no form of independent investigation into the people who are appointed to high-level positions within the national intelligence…
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23
50/100
Does the government have a well-scrutinised process for arms export decisions that aligns with Articles 7.1.iv, 11.5, and 15.6 of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)?
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Burundi has just signed the Arms Trade Treaty on June 3, 2013 but has not yet ratified it. [1] [2]
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Burundi has not yet ratified the ATT, therefore this indicator is marked as Not Applicable. [1]
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Burundi is not an arms exporter, therefore this sub-indicator is scored as Not Applicable.[1]
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Burundi does not have a legal framework covering lobbying activities, whether in other sectors or in the defence sector. [1] [2] [3]
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Burundi does not have legislation that regulates lobbying in the defence sector so this indicator is marked Not Applicable. Lobbying is certainly present within…
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Burundi does not have legislation that regulates lobbying in the defence sector so this indicator is marked Not Applicable. Lobbying is certainly present within…
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Burundi does not have legislation that regulates lobbying in the defence sector so this indicator is marked Not Applicable. Lobbying is certainly present within…
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Defence and Security Policy and Policy Transparency
Q1
NA/100
Is there formal provision for effective and independent legislative scrutiny of defence policy?
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Q2
NA/100
Does the country have an identifiable and effective parliamentary defence and security committee (or similar such organisations) to exercise oversight?
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Q3
NA/100
Is the country’s national defence policy or national security strategy debated and publicly available?
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Q4
NA/100
Do defence and security institutions have a policy, or evidence, of openness towards civil society organisations (CSOs) when dealing with issues of corruption?
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Q5
NA/100
Has the country signed up to the following international anti-corruption instruments: UNCAC and the OECD Convention?
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Q6
NA/100
Is there evidence of regular, active public debate on issues of defence? If yes, does the government participate in this debate?
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Q7
NA/100
Does the country have an openly stated and effectively implemented anti-corruption policy for the defence sector?
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Q8
NA/100
Are there independent, well-resourced, and effective institutions within defence and security tasked with building integrity and countering corruption?
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Q9
NA/100
Does the public trust the institutions of defence and security to tackle the issue of bribery and corruption in their establishments?
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Q10
NA/100
Are there regular assessments of the areas of greatest corruption risk for ministry and armed forces personnel, and are the findings used as inputs to the anti-corruption policy?
View QuestionDefence Budgets
Q11
NA/100
Does the country have a process for acquisition planning that involves clear oversight, and is it publicly available?
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Q12
NA/100
Is the defence budget transparent, showing key items of expenditure? And it is provided to the legislature in a timely fashion?
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Q13
NA/100
Is there a legislative committee (or other appropriate body) responsible for defence budget scrutiny and analysis in an effective way?
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Q14
NA/100
Is the approved defence budget made publicly available? In practice, can citizens, civil society, and the media obtain detailed information on the defence budget?
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Q15
NA/100
Are sources of defence income other than from central government allocation (from equipment sales or property disposal, for example) published and scrutinised?
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Q16
NA/100
Is there an effective internal audit process for defence ministry expenditure (that is, for example, transparent, conducted by appropriately skilled individuals, and subject to parliamentary oversight)?
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Q17
NA/100
Is there effective and transparent external auditing of military defence expenditure?
View QuestionNexus of Defence and National Assets
Q18
NA/100
Is there evidence that the country’s defence institutions have controlling or financial interests in businesses associated with the country’s natural resource exploitation and, if so, are these interests publicly stated and subject to scrutiny?
View QuestionOrganised Crime
Q19
NA/100
Is there evidence, for example through media investigations or prosecution reports, of a penetration of organised crime into the defence and security sector? If no, is there evidence that the government is alert and prepared for this risk?
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Q20
NA/100
Is there policing to investigate corruption and organised crime within the defence services and is there evidence of the effectiveness of this policing?
View QuestionControl of Intelligence Services
Q21
NA/100
Are the policies, administration, and budgets of the intelligence services subject to effective and independent oversight?
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Q22
NA/100
Are senior positions within the intelligence services filled on the basis of objective selection criteria, and are appointees subject to investigation of their suitability and prior conduct?
View QuestionExport Controls
Q23
NA/100