Burundi: Expanded opening of Gatumba border post to boost regional economy

As of October 1, 2025, the Gatumba border post, linking Burundi to the DRC, opens to the transit of merchandise in an initiative aimed at boosting the regional economy. This initiative, led by the Burundian Revenue Authority, marks a key step toward customs modernization and strengthening commercial exchanges in the Great Lakes sub-region.

The Burundian Revenue Authority (OBR) announced, on Monday, through an official statement, a strategic decision concerning the Gatumba border post, located at the border between Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). As of October 1, 2025, this post will operate in an expanded manner to welcome merchandise in transit, under certain conditions.

According to the OBR, all authorized commercial products may transit through Gatumba, with the exception of fuel and merchandise requiring weighing on a vehicle scale. This restriction is explained by technical and logistical constraints, as the post is not yet equipped to meet these requirements, unlike other border crossings better equipped.

Furthermore, the OBR announced the upcoming opening of a customs office at Gatumba, intended to simplify the collection of taxes and customs duties on imported and exported merchandise. This measure is part of an effort to modernize border management and strengthen public revenue collection capacity.

Located in the west of Burundi, in Bujumbura province, the Gatumba border post directly links Bujumbura to the city of Uvira in the DRC. This commercial corridor, one of the most frequently used in the Great Lakes sub-region, was until now underutilized due to insufficient customs infrastructure.

The expansion of Gatumba's functions should transform this post into a regional logistics and economic hub, while helping to relieve other saturated border crossings, such as Kobero (toward Tanzania) or Ruhwa (toward Rwanda).