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23/09/2026

Burundi: INSS trains 24 employees in first aid to strengthen workplace safety

Twenty-four employees of Burundi’s National Social Security Institute (INSS) received certificates on July 21, 2026, after successfully completing first-aid training aimed at strengthening their ability to respond to emergencies, including workplace accidents.

The training was designed to equip employees with basic knowledge and practical skills to respond quickly and appropriately in the event of an accident or other emergency requiring immediate assistance.

The initiative is part of INSS efforts to strengthen workplace safety and protect workers.

INSS Director General Major General Emmanuel Miburo said one of the institution’s missions is to assist and protect workers who are victims of workplace accidents.

He urged the employees who took part in the training to put their newly acquired knowledge into practice and share it with their colleagues so that more staff members can develop basic first-aid skills.

The approach is expected to gradually increase the number of INSS employees able to provide immediate assistance to someone in distress while awaiting appropriate medical care. It could also contribute to the establishment of a dedicated first-aid team within the institution.

Frédy Nzeyimana, information and public relations officer at the Burundi Red Cross, praised the commitment and attention demonstrated by INSS employees during the training.

He stressed the importance of having people trained in first aid in places that receive large numbers of people.

INSS receives many people every day, including visitors who travel from different parts of the country. Some may experience a medical emergency or accident requiring immediate assistance before professional medical care becomes available, he said.

The Burundi Red Cross said it is prepared to organize similar training programs for public and private institutions seeking to strengthen their employees’ first-aid skills.

The organization also supports the principle that every community should have at least one person trained in first aid, while companies with 50 or more employees should have workers capable of responding to emergencies.

For the employees who participated, the training provided practical knowledge that can be useful both at work and in everyday life.

Some participants said they valued the skills they acquired and believed the training would help them respond more effectively to emergencies requiring first aid.

At the end of the program, all 24 employees received certificates confirming their successful completion of the training.

The initiative marks another step by INSS toward strengthening workplace safety and expanding first-aid knowledge among its employees.

22/09/2026

Burundi Reviews 10 Years of Health System Reforms Under PASS-FBP3

Burundi’s Ministry of Public Health has launched a three-day workshop to review a decade of experience under the Programme d’Appui au Système de Santé à travers le Financement Basé sur la Performance – Phase 3 (PASS-FBP3), with a focus on strengthening the country’s health system.

The workshop opened on September 22, 2026, under the leadership of the Minister of Public Health and will run through September 24. It brings together health-sector officials and development partners, with support from the European Union and implementation by Enabel.

Discussions are examining reforms and lessons from the past 10 years aimed at improving access to healthcare, the quality of services and health-sector governance.

Particular attention is being given to women and children under five, who remain key beneficiaries of efforts to improve access to essential health services.

Participants are expected to identify lessons from PASS-FBP3 that can inform future health-sector interventions, particularly in primary healthcare and health financing mechanisms.

The recommendations are also expected to contribute to Burundi’s broader efforts toward universal health coverage and universal health insurance.

The workshop comes as Burundi and its development partners assess the gains, challenges and lessons from a decade of health-system financing reforms, with the aim of informing the next phase of efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery.

22/09/2026

Burundi youth urged to embrace entrepreneurship amid employment challenges

Burundi’s Youth Economic Empowerment and Employment Program (PAEEJ) is encouraging young graduates to turn their skills and ideas into businesses capable of creating jobs, as young people continue to face difficulties entering the labor market.

PAEEJ National Coordinator Désiré Manirakiza made the call on September 18, 2026, while addressing nearly 200 young people from Bujumbura who gathered for a training session organized by the Youth Coalition for Development in Africa (YCDA) through the JenAFRICA program.

The session focused on designing and implementing development projects, with participants encouraged to pool their ideas, skills and resources to develop practical initiatives.

According to data from Burundi’s National Institute of Statistics (INSBU), based on the 2024 General Population and Housing Census (RGPHAE), the country has 3,878,066 young people aged 15 to 34.

Manirakiza said only about 10 out of every 100 young people who complete their studies are able to secure employment, highlighting what he described as the need for stronger entrepreneurial initiatives.

Participants were encouraged to start with projects within their means, remain persistent and seek support and financing as their initiatives develop. Among the institutions identified as potential sources of support were PAEEJ and the Youth Investment Bank (BIJE).

Organizers said similar training sessions are expected to be held in other provinces across Burundi.

22/09/2026

🇧🇮 Burundi’s Intamba mu Rugamba begin training in Togo 🇹🇬

Burundi’s national football team, Intamba mu Rugamba, have held their first training session in Togo as they prepare for their opening match in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The team is stepping up preparations ahead of the start of their campaign to secure a place at the continental tournament.⚽🇧🇮

📸: FFB

22/09/2026

🇧🇮 Burundi’s Youssuf Ndayishimiye arrives in ahead of AFCON 2027 qualifiers

international player Youssuf Ndayishimiye has arrived safely in to join the national team as preparations intensify for their opening match in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Ndayishimiye will link up with his teammates "Intamba mu Rugamba" as Burundi begin their campaign for a place at the continent’s premier football tournament.💪⚽🇧🇮

21/09/2026

Burundian Student Turns Harvard University Setback Into New Chapter at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar

Marie Gaella Dushime’s journey to university took an unexpected turn after she was admitted to Harvard University but could not travel to the following the U.S. travel restrictions affecting .

Dushime, who was a senior at Kigutu International Academy when she received her admission, had been preparing to begin what she described as a long-held dream. But as she was preparing to collect her U.S. visa, the travel restrictions came into effect and her was cancelled, preventing her from taking up her place at Harvard.

“I was devastated. My admission to Harvard wasn’t just my dream. It belonged to all of us in Burundi,” Dushime wrote in a reflection shared a year ago.

Rather than abandoning her plans, Dushime used the following year to continue building her skills and pursuing her interests. According to Village Health Works, she took coding courses, advocated for women in STEM and applied to other universities.

That persistence has now led her to a new destination.

Last month, arrived in to begin her university studies at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar.

She says she is enjoying the experience so far and hopes her story will encourage other young people facing unexpected setbacks.

“If one thing doesn’t work out, something else will,” she said.

Looking back on the experience, Dushime said the disappointment of losing her opportunity to attend Harvard has become a source of motivation rather than the end of her ambitions.

“My experience has become a motivation for me,” she said. “How can I do more? It’s become a reference point. I always want to do better. I used that experience to create another beautiful one.”

Her story highlights how an interrupted opportunity can lead to a different path — one that continues to be shaped by , and .

📸: Village Health Works

21/09/2026

, U.S. Begin Oversight of $156 Million Health Cooperation Agreement

Burundi and the United States have begun formal oversight of a $156 million, five-year health cooperation agreement, with officials meeting in Bujumbura to review implementation, define priorities and strengthen coordination between the two countries.

On September 18, 2026, Burundi’s Minister of Public Health, Dr. Fidèle Nkezabahizi, and U.S. Chargée d’Affaires a.i. Bridget Premont chaired the first meeting of the Steering Committee responsible for monitoring implementation of the memorandum of understanding between Burundi’s Ministry of Public Health and the United States.

The meeting brought together members of the Steering Committee and Technical Committee responsible for supporting implementation of the agreement.

According to Burundi’s Ministry of Public Health, Nkezabahizi welcomed the quality of health cooperation between Burundi and the United States and praised Washington’s continued engagement in the country’s health sector.

The minister said the implementation of the memorandum comes at a time when Burundi is working to strengthen its national health system, with particular emphasis on efficiency, the quality of interventions, integration of health programs and the sustainability of progress already achieved.

“Today’s meeting should allow us to move from a logic of intention to a logic of results, with clearly defined priorities, identified responsibilities, a realistic timeline and a regular monitoring mechanism,” Nkezabahizi said, according to the ministry.

The U.S. Embassy Bujumbura, Burundi said the first Steering Committee meeting is intended to strengthen a shared understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the different structures involved, review progress in implementing the agreement, and identify priorities and next steps for continued cooperation.

The agreement, signed in February 2026 under the U.S. America First Global Health Strategy, provides a framework for cooperation in several areas of public health.

According to the U.S. Embassy, the partnership is supporting Burundi’s efforts to combat HIV/AIDS and malaria, strengthen disease surveillance and improve the country’s ability to respond more rapidly to emerging health threats.

The cooperation comes as Burundi seeks to reinforce its health system and improve the delivery and sustainability of health interventions across the country.

The Steering Committee is expected to meet quarterly during the first year of implementation before moving to twice-yearly meetings thereafter. The structure is intended to provide continued oversight and regular assessment of progress under the partnership.

For Burundi, the meeting represents an effort to translate the commitments contained in the memorandum into concrete priorities, responsibilities and measurable results. For the United States, it provides a framework for continued coordination with Burundi on health-system strengthening and disease prevention.

Both sides have emphasized the importance of sustained cooperation as the agreement moves from its initial commitments toward implementation and measurable outcomes.

21/09/2026

Le Sourire School in Ruyigi Marks 15 Years, Opens Fourth Cycle of Basic Education

Le Sourire School in Ruyigi celebrated its 15th anniversary on Friday, September 18, 2026, marking the milestone with the opening of the fourth cycle of basic education, which will now accommodate students in seventh grade.

Founded in 2011 with the aim of providing quality preschool education in what was then Ruyigi Province, the school has gradually expanded its educational programs. Its legal representative, Suavis Citegetse, said she was proud to see the institution’s original vision take shape over the years.

The school began with preschool education and now has 535 students. The introduction of seventh grade marks another step in its development, allowing the institution to continue supporting students at a more advanced stage of their education.

The anniversary celebrations began with a thanksgiving Mass held at Le Sourire School’s Site 2. In his homily, Father Jean Baptiste Kamiriro emphasized the importance of education and the shared responsibility of parents and teachers in guiding children.

He said education should go beyond academic performance, helping young people gradually prepare for their futures and build their professional and social lives.

Welcoming guests to the ceremony, the school’s new director, Ruben Ntahomvukiye, paid tribute to the institution’s founders for their efforts since its establishment. He praised their commitment and determination to ensure the school’s development and continuity.

During the ceremony, Citegetse reflected on the school’s journey, from its beginnings in preschool education to the opening of the fourth cycle of basic education.

She also praised teachers and other staff members who, over the years, have contributed to the school’s growth and the education of its students. She particularly highlighted Emilienne Bingoye and Ferdinand Mayange, along with others who have demonstrated a longstanding commitment to Le Sourire School.

Jean Claude Ndayiragije, president of the parents’ committee, praised the quality of education provided by the school. He said several former students had gone on to join highly regarded schools, while others continued to distinguish themselves in the institutions they attended after leaving Le Sourire.

He encouraged the school’s leadership and staff to maintain their efforts and continue providing quality education to students.

Déogratias Nsekera, representing the invited guests, also proposed several measures to support the school’s continued development. Among them, he suggested providing Le Sourire teachers with greater access to continuous professional development and training, similar to opportunities available to some teachers in the public sector.
He said strengthening teachers’ pedagogical skills was important to maintaining and improving the quality of education offered to students.
Nsekera also encouraged the school to continue expanding, noting that it had started with preschool education. He raised the possibility of eventually developing the institution to include upper secondary education.
He further suggested that Le Sourire could, in the future, consider establishing a higher education facility that could welcome students from the school as well as other young people.
He reaffirmed his moral and material support for the institution.
The ceremony ended on a festive note, with students, parents, teachers and guests performing traditional Burundian songs and dances.

For Le Sourire School, the 15th anniversary represents an important milestone in its journey from preschool education to the opening of the fourth cycle of basic education. The institution now plans to continue expanding while strengthening the quality of education it provides to children in Ruyigi.

Despite the celebrations, the anniversary was also marked by grief following the death of one of the school’s longtime friends, Maggy Kabwa Ntibigarura, affectionately known as “Aunt Maggy,” who died on September 14, 2026.

“As we celebrate our anniversary, we are also mourning Mrs. Maggy Kabwa Ntibigarura, whom we affectionately called Aunt Maggy, who returned to her Heavenly Father on September 14, 2026. She lived in Austria. Whenever she was on holiday in Burundi, she would come and visit us. She would go into every classroom, greet the children, teachers and all the staff. She encouraged and supported us whenever we turned to her for help. We have lost both a mother and a grandmother,” Citegetse said.

“We will remember her as a smiling, warm and deeply loving woman whose kindness and love touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. May her smile, gentleness and all the love she shared with those around her remain forever engraved in our hearts,” she added.

“Our deepest condolences to her family and to everyone who loved her,” the legal representative concluded.

21/09/2026

PARCEM Warns Is Threatened by , and Economic Hardship

Burundi may not be experiencing armed conflict, but several political, social and economic challenges continue to undermine peace, civil society organization PARCEM said Monday September 21, 2026, on the sidelines of the International Day of Peace celebrations.

Speaking at PARCEM's headquarters, national director Faustin Ndikumana said peace should not be measured only by the absence of war. A family can be physically secure, he said, while still lacking peace if its children cannot study, there is not enough food or basic needs cannot be met.

Ndikumana identified divisive political rhetoric, alleged injustice within public institutions, corruption and concerns over government procurement as factors that can threaten social stability. He said citizens who report injustice should be able to seek redress without being silenced or intimidated.

He also pointed to rising prices, youth unemployment, shortages of essential goods and medicines, inadequate access to water and electricity, fuel shortages and transport difficulties. Some workers, he said, can go months or even more than a year without receiving their salaries.

PARCEM also raised concerns over fertilizer shortages, with Ndikumana alleging that some government officials receive fertilizer before farmers who depend on it. He said shortages of fuel and electricity are also affecting radio stations, potentially limiting one of the main channels through which citizens receive information.

Ndikumana urged authorities to confront problems as they emerge rather than simply promising that the future will improve.

“Peace is like a field that must be cultivated continuously,” he said, stressing that a better future requires concrete action.

PARCEM called for stronger efforts to fight corruption, reinforce the justice system and address alleged discrimination and injustice. Ndikumana said justice is fundamental to peace and development and urged authorities to strengthen institutions so citizens can obtain remedies when their rights are violated.

The organization also called for continued respect for the Arusha peace framework and other agreements that contributed to ending Burundi's conflict, as well as measures to discourage divisive rhetoric.

Ndikumana further argued that prayer and religious gatherings alone cannot resolve the country's economic and social problems. He called for practical development policies, effective leadership and greater awareness of the challenges facing citizens.

For PARCEM, the absence of war is only one dimension of peace. Justice, good governance, access to basic necessities, economic opportunity and the ability of citizens to live with dignity are also essential to lasting peace in Burundi.

20/09/2026

Burundi Catholic Church to Begin Construction of Catholic University in October

The Catholic Church in Burundi is preparing to begin construction of a Catholic university in Bujumbura in October, Archbishop Gervais Banshimiyubusa of the Archdiocese of Bujumbura has announced.

The announcement was made on Saturday, September 19, 2026, during a Mass marking the opening of the new pastoral year and the 26th anniversary of Banshimiyubusa’s episcopal ordination. Burundi’s Vice President, Prosper Bazombanza, attended the ceremony as a representative of the government.

The university project is not new. The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Burundi approved the initiative years ago, while preparations for a Catholic university have been documented by the Church since the 2000s. In recent years, the project has included plans for a Bujumbura campus and possible campuses in other dioceses.

In his address, Banshimiyubusa emphasized the importance of education, saying: “There is no greater poverty than a lack of knowledge.”

He said the Catholic Church in Burundi would launch the Catholic University of Burundi, Bujumbura Campus, at the beginning of October, as part of efforts to promote inclusive development.

“It is in this perspective that very soon, at the beginning of October, the Catholic University of Burundi, Bujumbura Campus, will be launched, with the aim of achieving comprehensive development in which no one is left behind,” Banshimiyubusa said.

According to information presented around the project, the university is expected to be based in Bujumbura, with campuses potentially established in dioceses that have the capacity to host them. Muyinga, Ngozi and Gitega have expressed interest in the initiative.

The Catholic Church has previously described the proposed university as an institution intended to combine scientific knowledge with human formation and values, while serving both believers and non-believers.

Vice President Bazombanza said the government supports the Catholic Church’s initiative to establish the university, describing it as part of efforts to promote quality education in Burundi.

The project marks a new phase in the Catholic Church’s longstanding involvement in education in Burundi, where it operates schools and other educational institutions across the country.

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23/09/2026

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