Why we consider Burundi a “failed state”

Burundi exhibits persistent state fragility stemming from repeated cycles of political crisis, weak institutions, and endemic corruption. As documented in The origin and persistence of state fragility in Burundi, since independence the country has endured multiple coups, civil conflicts, and elite capture of the state (“the state has not been effective in steering the country through a development process”).

According to a World Bank report, Burundi is trapped in a “multidimensional fragility trap” characterised by institutional weakness, low economic diversification, and poor absorptive capacity, which undermines sustainable growth and resilience to shocks. Additionally, corruption is deeply entrenched: the ruling party (CNDD–FDD) and security actors are implicated in large-scale capture of public resources across sectors (tax, customs, mining).

Human rights reports highlight systematic repression of civil society, media control, and abuses by state-aligned forces such as Imbonerakure, undermining the rule of law and social accountability.