Mobile payments could ease Burundi’s cash shortage
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Yaga Burundi
In Burundi, a cash shortage is leading some business operators to keep their money at home, while banks struggle to meet withdrawal demands. Mobile payments, particularly through BurundiPay, could reduce reliance on cash, but fees, power cuts and payment habits are holding back adoption, according to Yaga Burundi.
Mobile payments could reduce demand for cash in Burundi, where banks are short of liquidity and some business operators keep their money at home for fear they will not be able to withdraw it. Roger Guy Ghislain Ntwenguye, chief executive officer of the Banque de Crédit de Bujumbura (BCB), made this observation in early October 2026 at a meeting between the private sector and the Minister of Trade, according to Breaking Burundi, cited by Yaga Burundi.
The national BurundiPay system enables instant transfers and payments, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from a bank account or mobile wallet. The Bank of the Republic of Burundi (BRB) launched it on 23 April 2026, according to Agence Ecofin, cited by Yaga Burundi. Its interoperability connects commercial banks and mobile wallets.
Widespread adoption is still held back by transaction costs, power cuts and cash-payment habits. Everyday purchases, particularly in shops and markets, still rely heavily on banknotes, sustaining demand for withdrawals and pressure on banks’ liquidity.
