Burundi : the government takes a hard line against high-alcoholic beverages

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, September 27, 2026 — The Burundian government has suspended, with immediate effect, the production and sale of several categories of high-alcohol beverages. The measure, announced Saturday by the Ministry of Trade, specifically targets fortified wines, mixed alcoholic drinks, and liquors with a high ethanol content.

In a statement, the Minister of Trade, Hassan Kibeya, ordered the withdrawal of the affected products from the market throughout the country.

“All these beverages are prohibited from being sold and must be removed from circulation throughout the country with immediate effect,” the statement said.

Producers and retailers affected are urged to regularize their situation. Those wishing to continue their operations must submit an application for a production license or renewal, in accordance with current regulations.

The ministry is also asking the operators concerned to re-register so that the relevant authorities can verify their administrative status, permits, and the conformity of the documents required to conduct their business.

Sanctions announced

The Minister of Trade warns operators who do not comply with the new regulations. Production industries and businesses that “exceed these measures will be severely sanctioned,” he states.

Local authorities and security forces are called upon to rigorously monitor and enforce this measure throughout the country.

Beyond the suspension, the government states its intention to reorganize and restructure the beverage production sector and establish more transparent management of related activities.

The ministry also justifies its decision by citing the resurgence in the production and sale of beverages manufactured outside the legal framework. It also mentions concerns related to the excessive consumption of these products and their consequences for consumer health.

A phenomenon already documented by SOS Médias Burundi

This decision comes as the proliferation and consumption of highly alcoholic beverages have been a source of concern in Burundi for several months.

In an investigation published in May 2026, SOS Médias Burundi documented the consequences observed in some regular consumers of these drinks. The reported physical effects included a decline in general health, swollen faces, skin disorders, swollen legs, and other marked physical alterations.

The phenomenon, once considered to primarily affect men, also affected women and young people, according to testimonies gathered in this investigation.

Local responses already underway

Before the national decision announced on Saturday, several local administration authorities had already carried out seizures and targeted bans on certain beverages considered a concern for public health.

National authorities had also issued numerous warnings and called on administrative officials to increase their vigilance in the face of the proliferation of these products.

The Burundi Bureau of Standards and Quality Control (BBN) was tasked with strengthening controls on manufacturers and distributors. Its director general acknowledged the difficulties encountered in this mission, citing in particular cases of non-compliance with standards and pressure exerted on certain actors in the sector.

In some localities, raids were carried out on shops to remove these products from the market, accompanied by ultimatums issued to the retailers. Some vendors contested these measures, claiming to have obtained their supplies through channels they considered legal.

Observations reported by SOS Médias Burundi in May indicated the presence of these beverages in several regions of the country, where their consumption was raising concerns among residents, administrative officials, and healthcare professionals.

Elected officials, the Speaker of the National Assembly, civil society organizations, and the Head of State have also repeatedly called for strengthened control measures.

On September 17, 2026, President Évariste Ndayishimiye instructed the administration to redouble its efforts to limit the consumption of these beverages, citing their impact on health, families, and society.

In Gitega, the country’s political capital, traders also denounced the consequences of the seizures and destruction of some stocks, as well as the successive changes to the marketing conditions for these products.

In neighboring Rwanda, an offensive that extends to those responsible for quality control

In neighboring Rwanda, authorities recently took similar action against the production and marketing of alcoholic beverages deemed substandard. This operation notably resulted in the arrest and detention of quality control officials and several businesspeople involved in the sector.

This operation led to the arrest of producers, company executives, and public officials suspected of participating in the certification, control, or distribution of substandard products.

On August 13, Rwandan police and the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) presented 17 public officials suspected of involvement in the production or distribution of non-compliant beverages.

According to Rwandan authorities, business owners and managers in the sector were also targeted by the investigations.

In Burundi, the new measure announced by the Ministry of Trade opens a new phase in the control of this sector. Its implementation will allow, in particular, for measuring the extent of on-the-ground inspections and determining the appropriate actions to be taken against operators who do not comply with standards or licensing procedures.