Burundi sees 2012 GDP growth at 4.8 pct

BUJUMBURA (Reuters) - Burundi's economic growth will accelerate to 4.8 percent in 2012 and 6 percent by 2014 as the central African country diversifies its agricultural production and boosts investment in tourism and power production, its government said. Inflation is expected to decline in 2012 while risks to the economy stem from high global oil costs that could fuel imported inflation and ...

Burundi admits role in arrest of oppositionist in Tanzania

Burundi admitted Saturday that it had asked for an exiled Burundian opposition leader to be arrested in Tanzania and extradited to face murder charges.

Burundi court jails 16 for bar killing of 36

BUJUMBURA (Reuters) - A court in Burundi has sentenced 16 people to jail terms ranging from three years to life for killing 36 people in a bar, the most violent attack last year in the central African country, a defense lawyer said Saturday. Burundi has enjoyed relative peace since a Hutu rebel group, Forces for National Liberation, laid down its weapons and joined the government in 2009 after ...

Burundi tea revenues up 22 pct in 2011

BUJUMBURA (Reuters) - Burundi's tea export revenues rose 22 percent in 2011 compared with the year before, boosted by high volumes and a better quality of the commodity, a tea board official said on Tuesday. The country's state-run tea board (OTB) said it collected $22.2 million from the export of 7,954,346 kg in 2011. It earned $18.2 million the previous year from the sale of 7,318,911 kg. "A ...

Burundi denies request made for opposition leader's arrest

Burundi denied Saturday that it had asked for an exiled Burundian opposition leader to be arrested in Tanzania and extradited to face murder charges.

Tanzania frees Burundi opposition leader

Tanzanian police Tuesday freed a Burundian opposition leader, Alexis Sinduhije, who was arrested two weeks ago in Dar es Salaam at Burundi's request, a senior Burundian security official said Tuesday.

Braving Burundi: extract from Crazy River

Following in the footsteps of the great 19th-century explorers for his new book, Crazy River, Richard Grant travelled to Burundi to experience life in the poorest, most corrupt country in the world

Burundi lawmakers reject bill to tax own salaries

BUJUMBURA (Reuters) - Burundi's parliament has rejected a bill requiring hundreds of public office-holders to pay tax on their salaries and allowances, defying a proposal by the president to end the exemption. Parliament's decision late on Wednesday enraged civil society groups who had lobbied for the law in a country plagued by corruption and battling to raise tax revenues. They pledged to pile ...

Burundi annual inflation rises to 9.6 pct in 2011

BUJUMBURA (Reuters) - Burundi's annual average inflation rate rose to 9.6 percent last year from 6.5 percent in 2010, driven by high food prices, the country's statistics board said on Monday. The economy of the central African nation, which relies on coffee and tea exports, is expected to expand by 4.8 percent in 2012 from 4.2 percent last year, estimates by the finance ministry showed. "The ...

Burundi release 2 new rice varieties for better lives

( International Rice Research Institute ) Farmers in Burundi will soon sow the seeds of hard work and international cooperation with the release of two new rice varieties set to boost rice production and meet the rapidly growing demand for rice in Burundi.