Burundi expects high spending next fiscal year. After a 2015 political upheaval halted help, the European Union resumed funding in 2022. The US has pledged aid.
According to a draft budget released by Burundi’s finance minister on Monday, donor cash and increasing revenues will boost spending by 65% in the coming fiscal year.
Finance Minister Audace Niyonzima said spending would grow to 3.95 trillion Burundi francs ($1.41 billion) in 2023/24 from 2.39 trillion in 2022/23.
Revenues and donations will rise 47% to 3.22 trillion Burundi francs in 2023/24 from 2.19 trillion. 728.9 billion Burundi francs is the estimated budget deficit, up from 197.4 billion.
Agriculture, especially tea and coffee, drives Burundi’s 12 million-person economy.
After years of conflict and political upheaval under previous leader Pierre Nkurunziza, important sectors are starting to recover.
