Burundi : a giant undertaking for justice, but magistrates’ demands remain unanswered

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, August 4, 2026 – The Burundian government intends to undertake a profound transformation of its judicial system. More than 60.5 billion Burundian francs will be invested in the construction of local courts, first instance courts, and their associated prosecutor’s offices in the country’s five provinces and 42 districts. While the authorities present this program as a major step toward bringing justice closer to citizens, several observers believe that the new infrastructure alone will not be enough to resolve the difficulties plaguing the sector.

The project was presented on July 28, 2026, by Rosalie Ahishakiye, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, Gender, and Human Rights, during a workshop held in Gitega, the political capital of Burundi, for judicial and prosecutorial officials from across the country.

An investment of over 60 billion Burundian francs

According to Ms. Ahishakiye, the government plans to invest 60,598,973,462 Burundian francs in the first phase of this extensive program to modernize judicial infrastructure.

This phase includes the construction of 158 local courts, 24 first instance courts, and their associated prosecutor’s offices. The stated objective is to bring justice closer to citizens, reduce the long distances traveled by litigants, and provide magistrates with more suitable working conditions.

The official urged all stakeholders to ensure compliance with technical standards to guarantee the quality of the work and its alignment with the government’s development goals.

Accessible justice

Workshop participants emphasized that many courts continue to operate in cramped, outdated, or unsuitable buildings.

They believe that constructing new infrastructure will improve the way litigants are received, strengthen the capacity of the courts, and make the public justice system more accessible, particularly in remote areas.

They also believe that modern facilities will contribute to improving the working conditions of judges and other judicial staff.

The infrastructure doesn’t solve everything

Despite the scale of the project, several challenges remain.

For several years, judges and prosecutors have been demanding salary increases, improved working conditions, and more resources to carry out their duties. These demands apply to local courts, regional courts, and prosecutors’ offices alike.

To date, no official announcement has been made by the authorities regarding these requests.

For many observers, modernizing the justice system cannot be limited to the construction of buildings. It also requires strengthening human resources, providing ongoing training for judges, ensuring sufficient equipment, progressively digitizing judicial services, and reinforcing the independence of the judiciary.

A gamble to strengthen the rule of law

The launch of this program represents one of the most significant public investments in judicial infrastructure in Burundi in recent years.

Its success will depend not only on meeting deadlines and construction standards, but also on the government’s ability to address the other challenges facing the judicial sector.

Beyond the buildings, expectations focus on faster, more impartial, and more accessible justice for all—an essential condition for strengthening citizens’ trust in institutions and consolidating the rule of law. I’ve kept your angle : highlighting the ambition of the project while reminding everyone that infrastructure alone is not enough to transform the justice system.