Burundi: sanctions and trade risk

Sanctions programmeEU and Swiss targeted sanctions (asset freezes, travel bans).

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 0 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Burundi.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓

A sanctions programme concerning Burundi is in force — typically an arms embargo or targeted measures against listed persons and entities. Ordinary civilian goods are usually not restricted; arms, related material and listed parties are.

Sources: EU Sanctions Map — Burundi (23 Sept 2025) · SECO — Massnahmen gegenüber Burundi · reviewed 24 Oct 2026

Check a shipment to Burundi →

By sanctions regime

The indicator above is the strictest of these. Which regimes are relevant to a shipment depends on many connections — dispatch country, company location, incorporation, nationality, ownership, banks, goods origin. The check selects them from your inputs in a simplified way; UN measures take effect through each country's implementing law.

Regime	Indicator	What applies
UN	—	No UN sanctions regime.
EU	Sanctions programme	Targeted listings.
Switzerland	Sanctions programme	Swiss ordinance on Burundi.
UK	—	No measures against the country itself.
US	—	No measures against the country itself.

On the sanctions lists

No entry on the 7 lists Sanctioni screens names Burundi.

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Burundi recorded yet.

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All sanctioned countries compared by regime

Logistics profile

Burundi: logistics and trade

Landlocked country and transit market on the Central Corridor

Burundi (ISO-Code: BI) is located in East Africa and borders Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Politically, the country is a presidential republic with centralized administrative structures. The climate is tropical with distinct rainy and dry seasons, as well as mild temperatures in the highlands. Economically, Burundi relies primarily on agriculture, especially coffee and tea cultivation, while industry and services play a limited role. The country has a strong dependence on imports for energy, machinery, food, and consumer goods. Due to its landlocked position and lack of sea access, Burundi relies on transit routes through the ports of Tanzania and Kenya. The national currency is the Burundi franc (BIF), which facilitates payments and trade within the region. In foreign trade, neighboring states as well as international markets play a central role. Logistically, roads and border crossings are crucial for the transportation of goods and integration into regional supply chains. Burundi is considered a resource-poor landlocked country with growing importance for East African trade.

Capital: Gitega
Population: 12,332,788
Area: 27,834 km²
Currency: Burundi Franc (BIF)
Continent: Africa
Region: East Africa / EAC
Economic area: EAC; COMESA; AfCFTA
Religions: Christianity, Muslims
Access to the sea: Landlocked

Transport modes Road · Inland waterway · Air

Current situation: As of 2026-06-21: the port of Bujumbura has been undergoing modernization since 2023 (AfDB/EU, around 79 million EUR); Bujumbura airport (BJM) has been expanding since 2024. Planned SGR corridor TZ-BI-DRC.
Seasonal conditions: Tropical rainy seasons (roughly Feb-May and Oct-Dec) can affect roads and transport by sea on Lake Tanganyika.

Main cargo airports

Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International AirportBJM
Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye (BJM/HBBA): Burundi's only international airport, SOBUGEA handling, mainly belly cargo, trucking to Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.

Road corridors

Central Corridor (Bujumbura - Dar es Salaam, TZ)
Northern Corridor (Bujumbura - Mombasa, KE)
Southern Corridor (Bujumbura - Mpulungu, ZM)

Inland ports

Port de Bujumbura (Lake Tanganyika)

Main trade lanes

Bujumbura - Dar es Salaam (TZ)
Bujumbura - Mombasa (KE)
Bujumbura - Kigoma (Lake Tanganyika, TZ)

Customs and import

Customs authority Office Burundais des Recettes (OBR)Official website ↗

Import customs system: EAC customs union with common external tariff (CET 0/10/25); Single Customs Territory; electronic clearance via the OBR based on the EAC Customs Management Act (EACCMA).
Export customs system: Export clearance via the OBR within the EAC framework; single declarations and proofs of origin for EAC and COMESA preferences. Main exports, coffee and tea, are subject to quality controls.
Import VAT: 18 percent (standard rate); reduced rate of 10 percent on certain food and agricultural products
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: EAC certificate of origin and COMESA certificate of origin for preferential tariffs in regional trade; Burundi is a member of the EAC, COMESA and AfCFTA.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Import controls and bans, including for weapons, narcotics and hazardous substances; licensing requirements for pharmaceuticals and agricultural inputs. Foreign exchange controls by the central bank (BRB).

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading (B/L), air waybill (AWB), CMR consignment note
Certificate of origin
Import declaration (OBR)
If applicable, import permit (pharmaceuticals, agriculture)

Typical export documents

Export declaration (OBR)
Commercial invoice
Packing list
Certificate of origin (EAC/COMESA)
Phytosanitary certificate (agricultural exports)

Logistics conditions

Customs complexity: High
Customs delays: High
Port congestion: Medium to high
Dangerous goods relevance: Medium
Pharma and cold chain relevance: Medium
E-commerce relevance: Low

Trade

Top import partners

Tanzania China Kenya Uganda Belgium

Top export partners

Belgium Germany Switzerland Kenya Tanzania

Top import goods

Petroleum products
Machinery
Vehicles
Food
Chemicals

Top export goods

Coffee
Gold
Agricultural products
Hides and skins

Typical cargo

Coffee
Tea
Gold
Petroleum products
Machinery
Vehicles
Food

Logistics questions

Which authority is responsible for customs in Burundi?

The responsible authority is the Office Burundais des Recettes (OBR), Burundi's customs and tax administration. It clears goods within the EAC customs union and uses electronic systems. Declarations are usually submitted through licensed customs agents.

What is the import tax (VAT) rate in Burundi?

The standard VAT (TVA) rate is 18 percent. A reduced rate of 10 percent applies to certain food and agricultural products. In addition, import duty of 0, 10 or 25 percent applies under the EAC common external tariff.

Does Burundi have a seaport?

No, Burundi is a landlocked country with no access to the sea. Its most important port is the inland port of Bujumbura on Lake Tanganyika. Overseas imports and exports go through the seaports of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and Mombasa (Kenya).

Which transit corridors does Burundi use?

Burundi mainly uses the Central Corridor to Dar es Salaam, the Northern Corridor to Mombasa and the Southern Corridor to Mpulungu (Zambia). Around 80 percent of foreign trade passes through the port of Bujumbura and these corridors.

Which customs system and free trade rules apply?

Burundi is a member of the East African Community (EAC) with a common external tariff, as well as COMESA and AfCFTA. Preferential tariffs in regional trade require EAC or COMESA certificates of origin.

Which airport is relevant for air cargo?

The only international airport is Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International (BJM). It is Burundi's main gateway for air cargo and has been expanding since 2024; the only cargo handler is SOBUGEA.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗