Driver’s licenses : after more than two years of shortage, the PSR finally promises resumption amid persistent suspicions of favoritism

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, August 6, 2026 – After more than two years of waiting and hardship for thousands of applicants, the Traffic and Road Safety Police (PSR) has announced the resumption of production and distribution of biometric driver’s licenses. While this announcement has been met with relief by some users, it does not dispel concerns related to accusations of favoritism that marked the period of shortage.

At a press conference held on Wednesday in Bujumbura, Burundi’s commercial capital and home to the central government and most UN agencies, the commander of the Traffic and Road Safety Police (PSR), Étienne Citegetse, announced that biometric driver’s licenses are now available in his department’s inventory.

“We are preparing for production and distribution to those who are eligible,” stated Commander Citegetse. He advised those who have already submitted an application to wait at home for a text message before going to the relevant offices to collect their documents.

According to him, the text message sent to applicants will also indicate the collection date and the office number where they can pick up their licenses, thus avoiding unnecessary travel and the crowds recently observed outside the relevant offices.

The head of the Road Safety Police (PSR) also warned against unscrupulous individuals who might exploit the situation by demanding money in exchange for supposedly expediting the license application process. He urged drivers to remain vigilant and not fall victim to these practices.

Despite the presence of PSR agents in various provinces across the country, Bujumbura remains the only location where driver’s licenses are issued. This centralization forces applicants from other parts of the country to travel to the commercial capital, a situation which, according to some drivers, creates conditions conducive to corruption and the manipulation of individuals seeking to circumvent normal procedures.

This announcement comes after a long period during which many drivers had to make do with a simple paper receipt as proof of their application. For many drivers, this provisional document did not meet their actual needs and complicated the process during traffic stops.

“Finally, we hope things will change and that distribution will be effective without only those close to the authorities being served, as we have often heard,” testified a user interviewed.

Other applicants, however, remain cautious. They fear that this resumption will only be temporary and dread another stock shortage once the first beneficiaries have been served. Some believe that only a transparent distribution will dispel suspicions of favoritism.

The PSR now assures that it intends to organize a regular and equitable distribution. Users, for their part, are waiting to see if this new announcement will truly mark the end of a crisis that has lasted more than two years.