• Burundi introduced a digital platform for civil registration management and the production of a new biometric national identity card.

• Authorities said the reform required legal amendments to replace manual civil registration procedures with digital processes.

• Burundi still faces infrastructure constraints, including limited electricity and internet access, with internet penetration standing at 11.1% at the end of 2025.

Burundi has continued the modernization of its public administration through a broad digitalization program focused on civil registration and citizen identification systems. On Tuesday, May 6, the Ministry of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security presented a digital platform dedicated to managing administrative documents and producing a new biometric national identity card.

According to Valentin Nahimana, Director General in charge of administrative programs at the ministry, authorities had prepared the reform for several years. However, implementation required adjustments to the existing legal framework, particularly provisions in the family code that still mandated manual registration of civil records. Nahimana said the government needed these legal changes to integrate new technologies into the administrative system.

The future biometric identity card will include several security features designed to reduce the risks of forgery and identity theft. Authorities said the card’s unique identification number will also serve as a reference for other official documents, including passports and various administrative services.

The initiative forms part of Burundi’s broader digital transformation strategy aimed at modernizing public services, strengthening data security and improving citizen identification systems. The project notably includes the digitization of civil registration records, which authorities have long managed manually, as well as the introduction of an identification system aligned with international standards.

On the technical side, authorities said they have nearly completed the required infrastructure and now await the adoption of a decree that will formally govern the system’s use. However, several challenges remain, including limited access to electricity and internet connectivity in some rural areas. According to the latest DataReportal figures, Burundi’s internet penetration rate reached 11.1% at the end of 2025, one of the lowest levels in sub-Saharan Africa.

Beyond the issuance of a national identity document, the project marks a new stage in Burundi’s digital transformation agenda. Authorities expect the initiative to strengthen administrative governance, facilitate access to public services and establish the foundations of a more modern and interconnected digital ecosystem.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum