Safety in Burundi: what overland travellers should know

Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 29 December 2025.

Safety

Unrest — Disorder recurs more or less regularly: on 10 May 2024 a series of grenade explosions in Bujumbura killed three people and injured 38. The ministry asks anyone in the country to keep movement to what is necessary, stay on top of political and security developments and keep away from gatherings and political demonstrations.
Terrorism — Burundi is exposed to a high terrorism risk, which has grown recently with the resumption of Red-Tabara activity, linked to the Burundian army's part in the mission in Somalia. Attacks on public transport infrastructure and busy places such as restaurants and hotels cannot be ruled out.
Congo and Rwanda borders — Travel to the areas bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda — the provinces of Cibitoke, Bubanza, Kayanza, Ngozi, Kirundo and Muyinga — is advised against. Unidentified attackers strike the local population in rural regions, particularly north-west of Bujumbura towards the Congolese border at Rukoko, and armed gangs operate on the Congolese and Tanzanian borders. Elsewhere in the country particular caution is needed, above all when travelling at night.
Attacks on foreigners — There have been past killings of foreign residents and visitors: a Croatian nun and an Italian aid worker died in an armed attack in 2011, three Italian nuns were killed inside their convent at Kamenge in September 2014, and an Italian was killed in his home in July 2017.
Petty crime — Petty crime is widespread, driven in part by the lasting economic hardship of the local population.
Power cuts — Power cuts are frequent and happen daily across the country.

Before you rely on this

This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 29 December 2025. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Burundi before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.

Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 29 December 2025. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.