Five years of political crisis have battered Burundi’s economy, and there is little hope of a turnaround ahead of elections next week, as feeble signs of recovery have been dashed by the coronavirus crisis.
The country’s last election in 2015, which saw President Pierre Nkurunziza seek a highly contested third term, led to violence that left at least 1,200 dead, displaced hundreds of thousands and led to a sustained crackdown on the opposition and media.
Poverty and unemployment have worsened, the Burundian franc has plummeted, imported products and foreign currency are scarce and the country was cut off by donors and placed under sanctions in the wake of the violence.
“As far as the economy goes, Burundi still hasn’t emerged from the 2015 crisis, because almost all indicators are in the red, even if we were starting to see a small improvement,” said Gabriel Rufyiri, president of Olucome, one of the main Burundian organisations fighting corruption.
After two years of deep recession, the economy had begun growing again in 2017 and the World Bank predicted growth of two percent this year — still far lower than most African countries.
However the impact of the coronavirus crisis, which observers fear is spreading out of control in Burundi, could wipe out this progress.
“Unfortunately this small hope is being compromised by the consequences of the health crisis,” said Rufyiri.
Burundi has officially reported only 27 cases and one death, but testing is very limited, no lockdown measures have been imposed, and the political campaign has been marked by jam-packed rallies attended by thousands.
Hotel rooms ’empty’
The only significant measure taken is the closure of borders. Only the frontier with Tanzania is allowing trucks through.
The loss of business travellers and other visitors has paralysed hotels and restaurants in the commercial capital Bujumbura.
“Normally, more than 90 percent of our clients are Congolese businessmen. Today our rooms are empty,” said Gerard, manager of a hotel in Bwiza, a neighbourhood in Bujumbura.
Second-hand vehicles, motorbikes, spare parts for cars or even cellphones, which usually come from Uganda, Dubai or China, are also becoming scarce.
“We no longer find cellphone accessories,” said a trader in Bujumbura.
Foreign currency, already in short supply since 2015 due to the halt of budgetary support from foreign donors, and the flight of many westerners from the country, has become even scarcer.
