The Burundi -an government has launched a nationwide investigation that will not only examine the legal and financial compliance of churches and religious denominations but will also closely evaluate their teachings, practices, and treatment of followers.
In a letter signed on May 28, 2026, addressed to provincial governors, the Minister of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security, Leonidas Ndaruzaniye, instructed investigators to assess whether religious groups engage in coercive practices, abuse, extortion, or teachings that could endanger the physical or mental well-being of believers.
According to the minister, this initiative follows a directive issued by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Burundi on February 13, 2026, calling on the relevant authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure strict compliance with the legal provisions governing religious denominations. Authorities will also examine whether any religious organizations promote extreme practices, including excessive fasting or messages that could put followers’ lives at risk, as stated in the letter.
The investigation will further evaluate relationships between religious denominations, seeking to determine whether some churches engage in defamatory or hostile rhetoric against other faith groups. At the same time, investigators will assess the social contribution of religious organizations through schools, health centers, youth programs, and other community development initiatives.
An Investigation Under Close Supervision
The ministry further instructed governors to closely monitor the conduct of local administrative authorities to prevent any attempts to obstruct the investigation or show favoritism during the process. They are expected to sanction any acts of collusion that could compromise the transparency or impartiality of the investigation. Investigation reports must be submitted to the minister’s office within one month.
The questionnaire attached to the minister’s letter calls for a comprehensive assessment of every church or religious denomination. Investigators are required to collect information on the representation and address of each organization, verify the existence of official registration and compliance with the 2022 Organic Law governing religious denominations, and determine the number of adherents.
They must also assess whether church buildings comply with construction and safety standards, whether the legally required minimum distance between places of worship is respected, and whether measures have been put in place to reduce noise pollution.
The investigation will also examine financial matters, including sources of funding, foreign donations, whether such donations have been declared to the supervising ministry, and whether annual financial reports are maintained.
At the conclusion of the investigation, each religious denomination will receive one of three classifications: compliant, non-compliant, or in the process of regularization.
This operation forms part of the policy framework adopted by Burundian authorities following the enactment of the September 16, 2022 law on religious denominations and represents a new phase in strengthening administrative oversight of the religious sector.
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