Fuel shortage disrupts electoral logistics in Burundi

Burundi’s main opposition coalition warns of direct consequences from the energy crisis on the organisation of the June legislative elections.

Share:

Subscribe for unlimited access to all energy sector news.

Over 150 multisector articles and analyses every week.

Your 1st year at 99 $*

then 199 $/year

*renews at 199$/year, cancel anytime before renewal.

The opposition coalition Burundi Bwa Bose has warned that the ongoing fuel shortage in the country threatens the normal conduct of the legislative elections scheduled for 5 June. In a statement issued on 3 April, its president Patrick Nkurunziza stated that candidates are significantly hindered in their movements, jeopardising grassroots campaigning and voter outreach.

Burundi, a landlocked country in East Africa with no oil resources, relies entirely on imports for its fuel consumption. This dependency has led to a worsening shortage in recent years, pushing petrol prices on the black market to levels five times higher than the official rate. The situation is having direct economic and political repercussions, particularly on electoral logistics.

Public management and internal economic pressure

In his statement, Patrick Nkurunziza also condemned an economic context marked by the depreciation of the Burundian franc and a surge in prices for essential goods, including fuel, food products and medicines. He attributed this deterioration to what he described as poor public governance and misguided economic decisions taken since the current administration came to power.

The coalition accused public authorities of embezzlement and corruption within the administration. These practices, it argued, are at the heart of the structural imbalances affecting the country and undermining the credibility of its institutions. The framework within which elections are expected to take place appears to be compromised by conflicts of interest between public officials and economic operators.

Political tensions and institutional climate

Burundi Bwa Bose emerged as the main opposition force following the exclusion of long-standing opposition leader Agathon Rwasa, deemed ineligible for the June elections. This decision has deepened political polarisation in a country where electoral competition remains heavily influenced by those in power and their control over institutional mechanisms.

Since 2020, President Evariste Ndayishimiye has sought to end the international isolation that characterised the regime of his predecessor, Pierre Nkurunziza. However, according to the latest Corruption Perceptions Index from Transparency International, Burundi remains one of the most affected countries, ranking 162nd out of 180 in 2024.

The South Korean government compels ten petrochemical groups to cut up to 3.7 million tons of naphtha cracking per year, tying financial and tax support to swift and documented restructuring measures.
The U.S. Department of Energy has extended until November the emergency measures aimed at ensuring the stability of Puerto Rico’s power grid against overload risks and recurring outages.
Under threat of increased U.S. tariffs, New Delhi is accelerating its energy independence strategy to reduce reliance on imports, particularly Russian oil.
With a new $800 million investment agreement, Tsingshan expands the Manhize steel plant and generates an energy demand of more than 500 MW, forcing Zimbabwe to accelerate its electricity strategy.
U.S. electric storage capacity will surge 68% this year according to Cleanview, largely offsetting the slowdown in solar and wind projects under the Trump administration.
A nationwide blackout left Iraq without electricity for several hours, affecting almost the entire country due to record consumption linked to an extreme heatwave.
Washington launches antidumping procedures against three Asian countries. Margins up to 190% identified. Final decisions expected April 2026 with major supply chain impacts.
Revenues generated by oil and gas in Russia recorded a significant decrease in July, putting direct pressure on the country’s budget balance according to official figures.
U.S. electricity consumption reached unprecedented levels in the last week of July, driven by a heatwave and the growth of industrial activity.
The New York Power Authority targets nearly 7GW of capacity with a plan featuring 20 renewable projects and 156 storage initiatives, marking a new phase for public investment in the State.
French Guiana plans to achieve a fully decarbonised power mix by 2027, driven by the construction of a biomass plant and expansion of renewable energy on its territory.
The progress of national targets for renewable energy remains marginal, with only a 2% increase since COP28, threatening the achievement of the tripling of capacity by 2030 and impacting energy security.
A Department of Energy report states that US actions on greenhouse gases would have a limited global impact, while highlighting a gap between perceptions and the economic realities of global warming.
Investments in renewable energy across the Middle East and North Africa are expected to reach USD59.9 bn by 2030, fuelled by national strategies, the rise of solar, green hydrogen, and new regional industrial projects.
Global electricity demand is projected to grow steadily through 2026, driven by industrial expansion, data centres, electric mobility and air conditioning, with increasing contributions from renewables, natural gas and nuclear power.
Kenya registers a historic record in electricity consumption, driven by industrial growth and a strong contribution from geothermal and hydropower plants operated by Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC.
Final energy consumption in the European industrial sector dropped by 5% in 2023, reaching a level not seen in three decades, with renewables taking a growing role in certain key segments.
Réseau de transport d’électricité is planning a long-term modernisation of its infrastructure. A national public debate will begin on September 4 to address implementation methods, challenges and conditions.
The Spanish Parliament has rejected a package of reforms aimed at preventing another major power outage, plunging the national energy sector into uncertainty and revealing the fragility of the government's majority.
The U.S. government has supported Argentina’s request for a temporary suspension of an order to hand over its stake in YPF, a 16.1 billion USD judgment aimed at satisfying creditors.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.

or

Go unlimited with our annual offer: $99 for the 1styear year, then $ 199/year.